In 2009, Professor Lu Houyuan’s team from Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences made a significant progress in millets identification based on phytolith morphology. Lu’s team formulated the criteria for phytolith identification of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and common millet (Panicum miliaceum). Based on new criteria and AMS C-14dating at Cishan, a Neolithic site in Hebei Province, Lu’s teamrevealed that common millet appeared back to 10300 cal. a BP, while foxtail millet occurred after 8700 cal. a BP. This innovative progresshas significantly revised our understanding of agriculture origin in East Asia and made an important contribution to Neolithic agricultural archaeology. Related results have been published in PLoS ONE and PNAS.