From hunters to early farmers

Neolithic life

"The discovery of the Peiligang culture reveals a mixed farming system combining dryland crops with rice cultivation, proving that more than 8,000 years ago, millet, broomcorn millet and rice — the three staple grains of ancient China — were already being cultivated simultaneously," says Li. "This provides concrete evidence of the origins of the three-grain farming system that later matured during the Yangshao period (5000 to 2900 BC)."

Architecture also advanced significantly during this period. Excavations have uncovered red baked-earth structures, widely regarded as the earliest known examples of this type of architecture in northern China, Li says. "These structures demonstrate that ancient people had mastered fire control and moved beyond temporary shelters for permanent dwellings."

Winemaking is another key discovery. "Wine played an important role in daily life, social exchanges, rituals and funerals," Li says.

Wang Kai, curator at the Zhengzhou Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, says the site comprises interconnected residential areas, cemeteries and handicraft workshops.

"Standardized burial customs had already taken shape. A wine vessel was placed on the right side of the deceased in nearly every tomb, while burial goods reflected different occupations," Wang says.

"Stone grinding slabs were also unearthed, signifying the advent of grinding technology. These implements were employed to process plant seeds, laying the foundation for early agriculture," he adds.

Researchers have also mapped the settlement's overall layout. The evidence suggests that Peiligang had a clear division of labor, social hierarchy and early forms of social stratification 8,000 years ago, according to Li.