Researchers from UCL have highlighted that an intricate system of ceramic water pipes and drainage channels unearthed at an ancient Chinese settlement attests to the remarkable engineering abilities of neolithic communities.

These feats were achieved without necessitating the presence of a centralized state authority.

The uncovered infrastructure, situated within the walled confines of the Chinese site called Pingliangtai, traces back to the Longshan period, approximately 4,000 years in the past, the Art Newspaper reported.

Dr. Yijie Zhuang from University College London (UCL), who serves as the corresponding author for the research paper, emphasized the significance of this find.

He noted, “The revelation of this ceramic water pipe network is striking due to the fact that the inhabitants of Pingliangtai were able to conceive, construct, and uphold this sophisticated water management system using tools from the Stone Age, all without the need for a centralized power structure.”

Written by staff