Analysis of Ancient Skeletons Confirmed the Legend about the Great Flood

Analysis of skeletons of children helped a Chinese-led team of scientists confirm the legend about the ‘Great Flood’, countering which might have been the reason for forming of the Chinese state, The Guardian writes.

According to the legend, described in ancient chronicles, Chinese civilization developed about 4,000 years ago, during the reign of the Yu the Great. Before becoming an emperor, he performed many brave deeds, including fighting the ‘great flood’: he managed to stop the disaster by creating new river beds to divert water.

The chronicles says that Yu received the blessing of the skies to found his own dynasty, which is known in history as Xia Dynasty, namely because he ended the flood.

Until recently, this legend had no confirmation, but now the scientists have real evidence that the massive flood did take place, and Xia Dynasty really existed.

During the research that was started several years ago, the scientists found traces of an ancient landslide that blocked the Yellow River in what now is Qinghai province for 6 to 9 months. When the blockage resolved, water flow damaged many settlements along the river for 2,000 downstream.

The scientists found the bones in the same area: radiocarbon method allowed for dating them at about 1920 B.C. — about the same time as the ruling of Yu the Great is dated in the chronicles. The scientists say the the flood was one of the most severe in the last thousand years.

The experts think that joint efforts of people who lived in Yellow River basin led to creation of the first Chinese state.