Mining firm 'damages' Great Wall

[ccharles000]

A gold mining firm is being investigated after part of one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall of China was damaged during prospecting.

About 100 metres of the wall was badly damaged, and investigators from the Chinese government and regional police now plan to bring charges.

The damage was originally discovered in September and work halted, but officials later found it had restarted.

The damaged section, in Inner Mongolia, dates from the Qin Dynasty (BC221).

Hohhot Kekao Mining Company is alleged to have knocked two holes, covering a total area of 300 sq m, through the Wall.

The head of the regional cultural relics bureau, Wang Dafang, told the Associated Press news agency that the damage was "irreparable".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8354987.stm