In October 1983, Tibetan archaeologists unearthed artifacts at Qoigung Village in the Nyangri Gully, north of Lhasa. These artifacts revealed aspects of civilization in Lhasa from 4,000 years ago and earlier. They were found in ash pits and tombs that contained stone coffins with bodies with folded limbs. More than 10,000 kinds of objects and a large number of animal bones were found. Objects included stone knives, stone axes, stone shovels, grinding stones, bone awls, bone needles; and bone arrow heads were also found. One of the bone needles had an eye as if for thread, resembling the sewing needles we use today. Large quantities of hand-made pottery were also uncovered in the ruins. Gray, polished black or brown in color, they display sawtooth- and string-like patterns, as well as carved patterns formed with awls. These artifacts provide evidence that there were people living in areas around Lhasa more than 4,000 years ago, and that they lived on farming, livestock breeding, hunting and gathering. Fishing net pendulums and fish bones uncovered in the ruins reveal that Lhasa River then teemed with fish, and that the locals had a habit of eating fish.

The Qoigung ruins cover an area of 5,000 square meters, only a part of which have been unearthed. More artifacts are expected to be found.