Foundations of civilization

"In the cave dwellings we have found pots and pans, but those at the main site are obviously ritual pottery. The difference between a higher class and ordinary people is easy to spot," says Zhang Xiaoning.

According to Han, Nanzuo site is of unique importance, and reflects a strong social and public power, showing that the east of the Liupan Mountains entered an early state or civilized society stage. "This is of great value as evidence in proving that Chinese civilization has a history of more than 5,000 years," says Han.

Alongside the remains of F1 there appears to be wing rooms on the left and right. Archaeologists guess that maybe people of high social status once lived there. So far though, that remains a theory, since it appears that one day they abandoned the "palaces", cleaning up without leaving a trace, and flattened the building, making it a foundation upon which new structures were built.

Located to the east of the Liupan Mountains, Nanzuo seems to have a relationship with the Dadiwan site, which is to the west. According to Li, both sides of the mountain range seem to play a big role in the origin and formation of the Chinese civilization.