Different periods of construction used different materials. The early periods of construction saw the Great Wall constructed of Earth packed into wooden boards.
Throughout its many construction periods, the Great Wall has always used as many locally sourced materials as possible to reduce costs and speed construction. In the mountain regions, stone was used for construction, while in the desert areas, reeds and juniper were used for building.
As the weapons used by potential invading forces changed over the centuries of construction, stronger materials had to be found to construct the Great Wall. In the early days of construction, armies used swords and spears, while by the end of construction, gunpowder had changed the face of warfare completely.
During the rule of the Ming Dynasty, construction materials changed with technological advances from Earth and wood to brick, tile and lime.
The use of brick in the construction sped up building work as the small, lightweight bricks were easy to carry, resisted freezing temperatures and had better weight-bearing capabilities than Earth and wood blocks.
Stone was used throughout the construction of the Great Wall. Cut into rectangles, stone was used for foundations and the gateways of the Wall.
