The study of early civilizations has long been shaped by the challenge of defining what constitute a “civilization” and the criteria for identify its origin from archaeological discoveries. Scholars have evolved from using writing as a primary marker, as proposed by Morgan, to focusing on the gradual development of social complexity and state institution. This shift reflects a move from defining civilization by cultural characteristics to understanding them as processes of social transformation. The article discusses how the cultural and material criteria such as city, bronze metallurgy, and writing are commonly used in Chinese archaeology as indicative of early civilization. However, they should not be regarded as universal or definite markers. The article emphasizes the importance of using ethnographic analogy and multi-disciplinary approaches to interprete archaeological data. Ultimately, the paper stresses the need for a scientific, systematic approach to the study of early civilization, moving beyond the identification of material culture to explore the process of social complexity from the perspective of social institution, economic infrastructure, and ideology and to strive for deeper insights into the dynamics that shaped ancient societies.