With their rich connotation, the archaeological discoveries from the Shang city-site at Yanshi have greatly widened the view of Shang-Zhou archaeology. Alongside the emergence of new data, the study of the site is continuously deepening in academic circles. In this stream, the Preliminary Study of the Shang City at Yanshi is so far the first academic monograph on the city, reflecting new advances in archaeological researches on the Xia and Shang period. As the available study results suggest, the city was built in the fourth phase of Erlitou culture, earlier than the Shang city at Zhengzhou. It can be identified as Xibo, capital of the Shang Dynasty in Tang's reign. As the only demarcation between the Xia and the Shang cultures, it has great academic value, which absolutely should not be underestimated.
During the 20th century, great achievements have been obtained in Henan archaeology. They cover the ranges from the discovery of the Yangshao culture to the excavation at the Yin Ruins in Anyang, from the denomination of the Peiligang culture to the revelation and ascertainment of the Xia and Shang culture, and from the discovery of Liang Prince's tomb of the Han period in Yongcheng to the survey of imperial mausoleums of the Northern Song dynasty. In addition, a number of archaeological theories and methods have been developed from the practice of archaeological excavation. The revelation of three layers superimposed each other at Anyang Hougang marks the establishment of archaeological stratigraphy in China, while the excavation at Zhongzhou Road in Luoyang and the systematization of its results constitute an important experience of archaeological typology. Welcoming in the new century, Henan archaeology should make further efforts by strengthening monographic studies and the application of high-tech means in researches.
