In 1985, the fossil remains of what became known as Wushan Man were unearthed near the Three Gorges. The oldest human fossils found in China, Wushan Man is evidence that early humans came to the region as many as two million years ago, prompting speculation that the Yangzi River Valley and Three Gorges region are at the origins of Chinese culture.

The Ba people are among the area's most interesting historic residents. The Ba lived along the river banks from around the 16th century to the 3rd century B.C., establishing capitals in Chongqing and Chengdu. Worshippers of the white tiger, the Ba left behind impressive bronzes statues which can be seen today in the Chongqing Museum. Archeologists have also found Ba coffins within the high cliffs of Bellows Gorge, providing important clues to the Ba way of life.

For many centuries, the Three Gorges have stood watch over traders, migrating communities, warriors and religious missionaries traveling the Yangzi's waters. Artifacts dating from the Chu Kingdom (770-221 B.C.) and the Qin (221-206 B.C.)—China's first dynasty—have been unearthed along the Three Gorges. The river bore witness to the treacherous Three Kingdoms period (220-265 A.D.) and a number of epic battles, including the famous Battle of the Red Cliffs, which features in one of China's greatest novels, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

Sun Yat-sen first advocated for such a dam in 1919. Later, the cause found support among the founders of the PRC, including Mao Zedong. The gigantic project lacked the necessary funding and technology, however. During the 1992 National People's Congress, the project was finally approved. Construction began in 1994 and the dam will be fully operational by 2009.

The resulting reservoir, some 175 meters (574 ft) higher than the original river, displaces over one million people as well as covering thousands of archaeological and cultural sites. Before construction began, however, the Chinese government commissioned over 300 archaeologists and historians to coordinate the protection of the area's relics. The group reported the impending destruction of over 1,200 archaeological sites (both above and below ground), representing artifacts from over 2 million years of history. Most sites were documented and photographed and a percentage of these sites were then excavated and preserved within more than a dozen new museums dedicated to Three Gorges history.