 Initially, the rocks it was found in were thought to be from the Early Cretaceous, but the age was reevaluated in 2009.The type species, "Yamaceratops dorngobiensis", was described by P. J. Makovicky and M. A. Norell in September, 2006.The authors consider the animal to have had an intermediate phylogenetic position between "Liaoceratops" and "Archaeoceratops" within Neoceratopia.