The ancient bridges over the Jue River near the Han Chang’an City

Abstract

AbstractIn 2006 through 2007, Xi’an Municipal Institute of Cultural Heritage Conservation and Archaeology excavated two ancient bridges crossing the old course of Jue River 400m to the west of the southwest corner of the Han Chang’an City. The ancient bridge no. 1 was better preserved, of which 160 bridge piles lining in five east-west rows were excavated; these bridge piles were high and straightly standing, and were almost on their original positions. The alignments and the charring degrees of the bridge piles reflected that this bridge had been built for twice. Ancient bridge no. 2, which was also crossing the same ancient river course, was about 90m to the west of no. 1. It was poorly preserved, only the root parts of the wooden bridge piles were found, in total 32 bridge piles in five rows were uncovered. This bridge located about 400m outside the southwest corner of the Han Chang’an City was just between the capital city and Jianzhang Palace of the Western Han Dynasty; to its southeast were the sites of the Altars of the Soil and Grains, the