Archaeologists in Inner Mongolia have discovered a massive Neolithic jade-working site that predates the known Hongshan culture centers. The site contains specialized stone tools and thousands of jade ornaments in various stages of completion, including early prototypes of the famous 'C-shaped' dragon.
The find suggests that the complex social structures required for industrial-scale craft specialization developed much earlier and further north than previously thought. This Yellow River Prehistory Journal report indicates a widespread pre-Hongshan jade network across Northern China.