Earliest Section of Great Wall Found: Predates the Ming Dynasty, Extending Over 600 Kilometers in Shandong Province

The most ancient segment of the Great Wall, predating the Ming Dynasty, has been identified in China's Shandong province, specifically in the Changqing district of Jinan city. This section is estimated to be over 2,000 years old, making it older than previously recognized portions of the Great Wall. Spanning 600 kilometers within Shandong, it was constructed by the state of "Qi" for defensive purposes before the unification of China under the Qin Dynasty. Archaeological teams have been conducting detailed surveys of the "Qi" wall since March 2023, utilizing advanced techniques such as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and carbon-14 dating to ascertain the age and construction methods of the wall. Built from local soil, sand, and stones, the wall highlights the strategic importance of the "Qi" state before China's unification under Emperor Qin.