The "Chinese Civilization Sourcing Project" is another major scientific research project supported by the state to study the history and ancient culture of China after the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" scientific research project-"Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties Dating Project". First, the project has been pre-studied for three years (200 1-2003). On the basis of pre-research, in the summer of 2004, the National Tenth Five-Year Key Scientific and Technological Project "The Traceability Project of Chinese Civilization" (the first stage, 2004-2005) was officially launched.

The second stage of the source exploration project is from the beginning of 2006 to the end of 2008. On the basis of the first stage, the research space was extended to the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Liaohe River Basin, and the research time was extended from 3500 BC to 1500 BC.

The next phase of the exploration project will last for 7 years, from 2009 to 20 15.