New excavations at the peripheral sites of the Liangzhu UNESCO World Heritage site have uncovered a sophisticated prehistoric hydraulic pumping system. The facility was designed to manage water levels in the complex network of canals that sustained the ancient city’s intensive rice-based economy during both floods and droughts.
Archaeologists found the remains of intact bamboo-reinforced water-wheels and a series of lever-operated sluice gates that allowed for the high-volume movement of water against natural gradients. This discovery pushes back the timeline for mechanized hydraulic engineering in East Asia by over a millennium and demonstrates the unparalleled mastery of water control by the Liangzhu people.