Archaeologists discover oldest section of China’s Great Wall, dating back nearly 3,000 years

Table of Contents

The discovery has its roots going back over 300 years further than initially thought. The incredible find, situated in Changqing District, Jinan, Shandong Province, is from the late Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE–771 BCE) and the early Spring and Autumn Period (770 BCE–476 BCE).

Conducted by the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology between May and December 2024, the dig covered around 1,100 square metres in the northern part of Guangli Village. This marks the first full-scale excavation of the Qi Great Wall following years of earlier surveys.

The Qi Great Wall, a forerunner to the renowned Ming Dynasty wall, was constructed by the State of Qi during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Built more than 1,000 years before the Ming Wall, it stretches over 600 kilometres across Shandong and was built to shield the state from invasions, particularly from the State of Chu.

Analysis and cutting-edge methods like optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and carbon-14 dating unearthed evidence of advanced engineering techniques. Built from rammed earth, stone and other materials, the wall highlights the military prowess of the Qi state much earlier than China's unification under the Qin Dynasty.

The team also pinpointed the ancient settlement of Pingyin City, situated roughly 1.5 kilometres north of the Qi Great Wall. Historical texts, such as the 'Zuo Zhuan and Water Classic Commentary', outline Pingyin as a vital stronghold of the Qi State. The city was a significant player in protecting transport routes and maintaining border security.