How old is Chinese civilisation? It really dates back 8,000 years, an archaeologist argues

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Dannie PengFebruary 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM

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An archaeologist, Feng Shi, is arguing that Chinese civilization dates back 8,000 years, significantly earlier than the commonly accepted 5,000-year timeline. Feng bases this claim on archaeological evidence indicating that ancient Chinese societies were practicing astronomy and timekeeping for agricultural purposes 8,000 years ago. He argues that the emergence of astronomy, rather than the emergence of the state, should be considered the starting point of civilization. The Xishuipo archaeological site in Henan province contains religious remains dating back 6,500 years that Feng believes is the oldest physical evidence of a star map. This assertion has sparked debate, with some critics suggesting the criteria for defining "civilization" are being manipulated to extend China's historical timeline.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Xishuipo 50% Henan 60% Chinese Academy of Social Sciences 70% Feng Shi ×390% China ×295%

Keywords

chinese civilisation 100% archaeology 70% astronomy 60% history 60% feng shi 50% archaeological evidence 50% timekeeping 50% xishuipo site 40% state origins 40%

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South China Morning Post

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90%

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China

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chinese civilisation archaeology astronomy history feng shi archaeological evidence timekeeping xishuipo site state origins

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