In 2002--2003, The Gasun-Qinghai Archaeological Team, IA. CASS. and the Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology continued to excavate on the Lajia site. They discovered a pile-dwelling and an earthen altar of the Qijia culture within a small square. On the altar, a special tomb was found to contain a number of jades; at the edge, ten burials were discovered to be of sacrifical nature. The altar is shaped like a trancated pyramid with gentle slopes and man-made hard surfaces, measuring about 2m in height above the square. The remains suggest that the pile-dwelling might have been a ritual building like the she (社 sacrificial building to the god of land ) or mingtang (明堂 ritual hall); and the high-rank tomb, a priest's burial , These finds mark a new breakthrough in prehistoric archaeology and the study of ancient civilization in the upper Yellow River valley, and have great academic significance.
The Hulijia site is a subject of archaeological researches on ancient sites within the Guanting Basin, Minhe, and was excavated in 1999 in an area of 500 sq m. It lies on the third terrace in a basin of the Yellow River valley, and contains principally remains of the Miaodigou period. There are ash-pits, fire-places, house-foundations, pottery-making kilns and tombs. Among the abundant objects unearthed are red-painted stone tools, perforated pottery vessels, and the remains of animal heads buried during foundation laying ceremonies. The implements of production are rather coarse and consist mainly of chipped stone tools. The stone and bone ornaments are made fine, such as a precious stone adorment and bi discs. The other noteworthy finds include a terra-cotta human figure, carbonized millet and domestic horses's teeth. The pottery vessels show typical features of Miaodigou period forms and painted decorations. The site represents the earliest Neolithic culture known so far in Qinghai province. Its excavation is of great importance to studying the then culture in this region.
