In the third archaeological excavation from 2021 to 2022, the Nanzuo site in Qingyang city, Gansu province, was proven to be a large high-rank capital-like central settlement of the late Yangshao Culture on the Loess Plateau.

Nine earthen platforms, a square palace, pottery, turquoise beads, stone and bone tools and carbonized rice have been unearthed. The site provides solid proof of the appearance of regional royal power on the Loess Plateau, proving that the area entered the early state or civilized society stage about 5,000 years ago.