The National Cultural Heritage Administration released the latest studies in the national research program on tracing the origins of Chinese civilization at a news conference on Dec 9.

The program, launched in 2002, has revealed a host of secrets about ancient China by exploring 29 major sites, including how early civilizations were formed and how they merged. The Jiaojia site in Zhangqiu district of Jinan was among them.

The Jiaojia site was discovered to be the birthplace of a very early civilization which was part of the Dawenkou Culture (4100-2600 BC), according to the Shandong University archaeology team, which is responsible for excavating the site.

The oldest yet urban settlement ruins in the lower reaches of the Yellow River in the prehistoric period were proved to be at the Jiaojia site, said Wang Fen, vice-dean of the School of History and Culture, Shandong University.

A large amount of jade and pottery was found in the tombs, providing strong evidence related to the origin of the ritual system in ancient China. The archaeological findings, especially the remains of the walls, trench and pottery kiln, indicate that the site was an important political, economic and cultural center in the northern parts of Shandong during the middle and late phases of the Dawenkou Culture.

Various jade ornaments unearthed at the Jiaojia site. [Photo/Shandong University]

Pottery and animal sacrificial pits are discovered at the Jiaojia site. [Photo/Shandong University]

A tomb with three layers of coffins at the Jiaojia site. [Photo/Shandong University]