Dissolved organic matter was extracted from chicken manure after 1, 8, 16, 28 and 40 days of composting and characterized by combining elemental and spectroscopic methods with chemometric analysis to investigate the evolution of composting materials. The elemental and spectroscopic analysis results showed that the composting process was characterized by the biodegradation of aliphatics, polysaccharide and proteins, as well as by the synthesis of aromatic structures, humic-like substances and macromolecules. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis indicated that the data from elemental and spectroscopic analysis fell into three main groups, and corresponded to the biodegradation, aromatization, and humification and polymerization state of the composting materials. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated rapid biodegradation of organic matter during the first eight days, and the formation of aromatic structures, humic-like materials and macromolecules in dissolved organic matter after eight days.