On December 9th, National Cultural Heritage Administration released the latest research findings of the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, so as to provide a more explicit way to differentiate various stages of the origins of Chinese civilization.

According to the research, different Chinese regions entered the ancient era nearly 5,800 years ago. Niuheliang site of Hongshan culture, emerging during the late Neolithic Age, represents the first stage of the ancient era.

Niuheliang site is located in Chaoyang City, Liaoning Province, with 5,000 to 5,500 years of history from now.

Prehistoric sacrificial sites with a large scale were discovered in Niuheliang site, together with unearthed jades, stone implements, potteries, and bone artifacts.

Represented by Niuheliang site, Hongshan culture has been an important part of the diverse and enriching Chinese civilization. It is also the direct root of ancient Chinese culture, leaving a profound impact on the research of the origins of Chinese civilization.