World Heritage @China: Innovative approaches to restoring the Great Wall through archaeological conservation

Should the stacking wall be　reconstructed directly, or should a foundation trench be prepared first? How should the vegetation be managed? How many ashlar bricks are needed to pave the horse road?　

If the restoration of the Great Wall is akin to a treatment,　archaeological work acts as the “preoperative check-up,” identifying the root causes before developing　a treatment plan.　In archeological practices, groundwork always precedes excavation.

By decoding the historical information embedded in these ancient structures, archaeologists provide crucial design references and lay a solid foundation for the emergency reinforcement, restoration, and maintenance of the Great Wall.