Where was the heartland of the pre-historic Chinese branch of languages (or that of the entire language family)? About the Indo-European family of languages, a common hypothesis is that it originated in central Asia, somewhere north of the Caspian and/or Black Seas.
Do we have any idea where the Sino-Tibetan family of languages originated, or at least of the Chinese branch of this family?
I believe most of the oldest Chinese prehistoric remains are scattered along or around the valley of the Yellow River. Is that also where it is hypothesised that the oldest forms of the language originated, and/or the oldest place where its Sino-Tibetan ancestral speakers dwelled?
This wiki page, History of China, provides some &quot;basic&quot; knowledge:
The &quot;earliest written record of Chinese&quot; (aka oracle script) was found in bones (of ox, cow) and shells (of tortoise) in 安陽. It's about 商 dynasty (1600–1046 b.c.).
About the preceding one, 夏 dynasty (bc 2070 - 1600), there was one newest discovery, related to the myth &quot;great flood&quot;, and 鯀 &amp; 禹.
This megaflood occurred in 1922 ±28 b.c., in the place of 喇家, in today  Qinghai.
A relevant article: Rocks tell story of China's great flood.
have fun :)