Ancient Ming dynasty stone grenades found near Great Wall of China

Archaeologists have made a discovery near the Great Wall of China, unearthing stone grenades dating back 400 years to the Ming dynasty, Report informs, citing foreign media.

These stone grenades were discovered in a building believed to have served as a storage site. They provide an intriguing historical glimpse into the era of the Ming dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644.

The discovery took place near the Badaling Great Wall, a section constructed during the Ming Dynasty, approximately 80 kilometers northwest of Beijing.

In the ruins of a storehouse, a total of 59 stone grenades were found. While visual representations of these objects are yet to be released, it is anticipated that they resemble hand-held thunder-crash bombs made from pottery shells, a prevalent type of weapon during that era in China.

These ancient stone hand grenades found near Badaling exhibit a unique central opening designed for loading gunpowder.

According to reports from Xinhua, they bear a resemblance to the stone grenades commonly used by guards stationed along the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty. When these grenades were loaded with gunpowder, they could be sealed, thrown, and had the potential to both hit the enemy and explode.