Abstract: Civilization is the product of historical processes and the result of human production and life. Archaeology, with its unique temporal scale and study of material remains, provides a distinctive perspective for exploring the origins of the characteristics of Chinese civilization. As Chinese civilization originated in the prehistoric period rather than the historical period, an insight into its characteristics requires our tracing back to prehistoric times. From the evidence of prehistoric archaeology, the origins of the characteristics of Chinese civilization experienced three stages: the Paleolithic era, the stage of agricultural origins, and the emergence of civilization. Among these, the origins of agriculture around 10,000 years ago were particularly significant, as agriculture represented the advanced productive force of that era, and the influence of Chinese civilization throughout history is rooted in its developed agricultural production. The characteristics of the origins of prehistoric Chinese agriculture, including its dual-origin centers and self-sufficient economic model, played a crucial role in shaping the fundamental traits of Chinese civilization. The process of civilization, built upon an agricultural social foundation, continued the cultural patterns established by the origins of agriculture and further promoted the initial formation of the distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization.

Key words: civilization, archaeological perspective, characteristics of civilization, origins of agriculture, process of civilization