In October 1988, the Archaeology Department of Peking University, when carrying out archaeological survey in the northwestern suburb of Zhengzhou City, did a small-scale trial excavation on the cliff in a brickyard' s clay-supplying area northeast of Chahe Village, 3.25 km southwest of Guxing Township. They brought to light ash-pits of the Erlitou and the early Shang Erligang cultures, and discovered a number of pottery objects and stone implements. Stratigraphieally, they revealed direct superimposition of remains of the lower Erligang complex upon those of the late Erlitou culture. This discovery provides new clues for understanding the features and nature of the two cultures and further studying into the chronology of the Shang culture in the Zhengzhou area.
