Researchers claim to have uncovered the secret of the Gobi Wall in Mongolia, shedding new light on its origin and purpose.

The study was led by Professor Gideon Shelach-Lavi and Dan Golan from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with Professor Chunag Amartuvshin of the National University of Mongolia and Professor William Honeychurch of Yale University.

The Gobi Wall, stretching 321 kilometres across the country's highland deserts, is part of a vast barrier system that extends from China into Mongolia.

Until now, its origins and function have mainly remained speculative.

Professor Gideon said his team had uncovered compelling evidence regarding the wall's construction and strategic role.

Their findings reveal that the wall and its military complexes were primarily built during the Xi Xia dynasty (1038–1227 CE), established by the Tungut people of Western China and Southern Mongolia.

Rather than serving solely as a defence system, the Gobi Wall played multiple roles, including marking boundaries, managing resources, and asserting imperial control.

Archaeological evidence also indicates that the region was occupied intermittently from the 2nd century BCE through the 19th century CE, stressing its long-standing significance.

Environmental and spatial analysis suggests the wall's route was carefully planned to align with essential resources, particularly access to water and timber.

Professor Gideon said: 'This research challenges long-standing assumptions about imperial frontier systems in Inner Asia.

'The Gobi Wall was not just a barrier—it was a dynamic mechanism for governing movement, trade, and territorial control in a challenging environment.'

The findings are published in the journal Land.