Civilization usually means urbanization. Shang is the first civilization in china verified both archaeologically and historically. Xia is older, but no oracle bones have been found. The capital of Shang was revealed by finding oracle bones. The old course of the Yellow River is 20 kilometers north of the core Shang area.
Archaeologists didn t find pre-Shang sites in the region.
So a cultural sequence is present in the Yellow River valley. There are 2.5 meters of cultural deposit under 2.5 meters of river deposit. Mazhuang is 30 kilometers south of Shangqiu, and has 22 burials. Painted pottery from the Yangshao this site is the easternmost extension of Yangshao. Shantaisi has had 5 seasons of excavation.