The design suggests that ancient people in the area had learned to harness water based on the landform rather than simply implementing measures to defend themselves against floods, said He Nu, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The discovery of the dam, announced at a meeting of archaeologists on Monday, is among the latest finds to shed light on the cradle of civilization along the midstream of the Yangtze River, China's longest waterway.