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The oldest section of the Great Wall was built during ancient China's Chu Kingdom, during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.), experts said at an academic conference held last week in Lushan County, central China's Henan Province.
Xiao Luyang, director of the Institute of Archaeology of Henan Academy of Social Sciences, said the walls, with a total length ofaround 800 km, are believed to have been built in 688 B.C.
Striding across one city, Wugang, and four counties, Lushan, Yexian, Fangcheng and Nanzhao in southwest Henan, the walls, taking a reversed "U" shape, were separately built as three parts -- east, west and north.
Using no adhesive, the zigzagged walls were simply constructed with natural stones.
Despite several minor collapses, about 20 km of wall is well preserved. This part, mainly consisting of girders, circumvallation and barbican gates, belongs to the village center of Zhou Jiazhai, south of the Banshanping Township of Nanzhao County.
Historical records show the site to have been the territory of the Chu Kingdom. Other kingdoms might have followed Chu people's example in building Great Walls themselves, said experts.
"We can even call them 'the father of the Great Wall'." said Dong Yaohui, president of the China Great Wall Society.
(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2002)
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