舊石器時代初期,廟后山(shan)遺址已(yi)有人(ren)類活(huo)動(dong)。
1978年,廟后山遺址被當地村(cun)民開山打石(shi)時發現。
1978至1983年,遼寧省本溪市考古部門(men)對廟后山遺址進行了4次發掘。
2012年(nian)7月(yue),遼(liao)寧省本溪市考古部(bu)門再次啟動廟后山遺址考古發掘(jue)工作。
廟后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址坐落(luo)在本(ben)溪縣山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子鄉山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子村東(dong),位于山(shan)(shan)(shan)南坡的(de)(de)一個(ge)天然洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴中。廟后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址一帶通稱遼東(dong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)地,周(zhou)圍山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒重(zhong)疊(die),基巖由奧(ao)陶系(xi)馬家溝組(zu)(zu)灰(hui)巖組(zu)(zu)成(cheng),地下水豐富,太子河的(de)(de)支流(liu)湯(tang)河從山(shan)(shan)(shan)下流(liu)過。廟后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴位處湯(tang)河的(de)(de)二(er)級階地,海拔約250米(mi)。廟后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址分上、下2個(ge)洞(dong)(dong)(dong),文化(hua)(hua)堆積共(gong)分8層(ceng),厚13.5米(mi),上洞(dong)(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)第7、8層(ceng),時代(dai)為晚更新(xin)世。下洞(dong)(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)第4、5、6層(ceng)為廟后(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)文化(hua)(hua)層(ceng),地質時代(dai)為中更新(xin)世晚期。
1978至1983年(nian),經過4次發掘,出土了人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)(lei)牙齒化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)2顆,小孩股骨(gu)(gu)(gu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)(ren)工打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)及(ji)少量骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),并發現有(you)用(yong)火遺(yi)址(zhi)。同時,還出土了72中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi) [1] 。廟后山遺(yi)址(zhi)發現一(yi)(yi)批第四紀(ji)(ji)哺乳(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)(lei)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)和(he)文化(hua)遺(yi)物(wu),出土1枚老年(nian)人(ren)(ren)(ren)右側上(shang)犬齒、1枚成年(nian)人(ren)(ren)(ren)右側下(xia)臼齒和(he)1件殘(can)斷的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)幼年(nian)左(zuo)側股骨(gu)(gu)(gu)。下(xia)洞文化(hua)堆積中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)遺(yi)物(wu),包括石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)品和(he)人(ren)(ren)(ren)工打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)原(yuan)料以(yi)(yi)(yi)灰(hui)綠色石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)英(ying)砂巖為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)(zhu),類(lei)(lei)(lei)型有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)核、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)和(he)各種(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi),打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)方(fang)法(fa)(fa)采用(yong)錘擊(ji)法(fa)(fa)和(he)碰砧法(fa)(fa),偶爾用(yong)砸(za)擊(ji)法(fa)(fa),廟后山人(ren)(ren)(ren)主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)用(yong)碰砧法(fa)(fa)打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian),打(da)(da)出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)寬大而厚重,主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)器(qi)(qi)(qi)物(wu)有(you)刮削器(qi)(qi)(qi)、尖狀(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、砍砸(za)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)球(qiu)等(deng),加工簡單、粗(cu)糙(cao),特征與(yu)周口店等(deng)第15地點(dian)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)相(xiang)似(si)(si)。與(yu)這批石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)共出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)品,有(you)用(yong)大型哺乳(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)管狀(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)而成的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)刃類(lei)(lei)(lei)和(he)尖狀(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),這些(xie)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)品,打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)方(fang)法(fa)(fa)簡單,用(yong)以(yi)(yi)(yi)補(bu)充石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)不足。另外,在舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)文化(hua)層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),發現灰(hui)燼(jin)、炭屑和(he)燒過的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)碎骨(gu)(gu)(gu),灰(hui)燼(jin)層(ceng)厚5-10厘米(mi),由粉末(mo)狀(zhuang)黑(hei)褐色物(wu)質組成,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間夾灰(hui)白(bai)色顆粒,是(shi)東北(bei)地區繼金牛(niu)(niu)山人(ren)(ren)(ren)之后又(you)一(yi)(yi)處舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)時代(dai)早(zao)期人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)(lei)用(yong)火遺(yi)跡。廟后山出土的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)共76種(zhong),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳(ru)(ru)類(lei)(lei)(lei)有(you)8個目72種(zhong),較古老的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有(you)碩獼猴、安(an)氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)(hua)河貍(li)、變種(zhong)狼(lang)、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)(hua)貉(he)、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國鬣狗、似(si)(si)劍齒虎、師氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)(hua)河貍(li)、三(san)門馬、梅(mei)氏犀(xi)、腫骨(gu)(gu)(gu)鹿等(deng),這些(xie)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),絕滅(mie)種(zhong)占53%以(yi)(yi)(yi)上(shang),種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei)基本是(shi)華(hua)(hua)北(bei)地區中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)新(xin)世典型動(dong)(dong)物(wu),也包括部分華(hua)(hua)北(bei)早(zao)更(geng)新(xin)世和(he)第三(san)紀(ji)(ji)殘(can)余種(zhong),地質時代(dai)為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)新(xin)世。廟后山下(xia)洞動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群以(yi)(yi)(yi)喜熱類(lei)(lei)(lei)為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)(zhu),植被以(yi)(yi)(yi)松、櫟等(deng)針、闊葉樹為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)。上(shang)洞(即7、8層(ceng))動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群,代(dai)表華(hua)(hua)北(bei)——東北(bei)晚更(geng)新(xin)世種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei),絕滅(mie)種(zhong)占38.4%,如披毛(mao)犀(xi)、猛犸(ma)象(xiang)、原(yuan)始牛(niu)(niu)等(deng)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)(lei)。
從2012年7月開始,廟(miao)后山遺址(zhi)(zhi)考古發(fa)掘(jue)工作再次啟動,發(fa)掘(jue)出1萬余件(jian)(jian)古生物(wu)化石、100余件(jian)(jian)土石器(qi)以及一定數量的刃類、尖類骨器(qi)等,在遺址(zhi)(zhi)現場東側發(fa)掘(jue)出火塘遺址(zhi)(zhi)。
廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發現(xian),證(zheng)明(ming)了原(yuan)始社會舊石(shi)(shi)器(qi)時(shi)代初期(qi),地處關外(wai)的(de)(de)(de)遼東地區有了人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)活動。對廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)文(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)表明(ming),這支早期(qi)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)文(wen)化(hua)和(he)(he)華北的(de)(de)(de)舊石(shi)(shi)器(qi)文(wen)化(hua)有密切聯系。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)考古(gu)發掘出(chu)的(de)(de)(de)火塘遺(yi)址(zhi),表明(ming)廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)古(gu)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)已(yi)掌(zhang)握了用(yong)火烤肉和(he)(he)敲(qiao)骨吸髓的(de)(de)(de)食用(yong)方法,是人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)踏(ta)入文(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)重要標志。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)對于探索中(zhong)(zhong)國遠古(gu)文(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)來龍去脈,具(ju)有十分重要的(de)(de)(de)意義(yi),為中(zhong)(zhong)國東北第四(si)紀地質學(xue)(xue)、古(gu)生物學(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)提供(gong)了重要資(zi)(zi)料。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)出(chu)土了大(da)量(liang)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)、骨片和(he)(he)動物化(hua)石(shi)(shi),具(ju)有很高的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)物價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、考古(gu)價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)和(he)(he)科(ke)研(yan)價(jia)值(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)為研(yan)究(jiu)(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)國古(gu)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)分布(bu)和(he)(he)發展以及古(gu)地理(li)環境(jing)等提供(gong)了寶貴(gui)資(zi)(zi)料,揭示出(chu)其與(yu)華北地區舊石(shi)(shi)器(qi)文(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)密切聯系,對于考證(zheng)廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)(hou)(hou)山(shan)古(gu)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)的(de)(de)(de)活動范圍、生存(cun)能(neng)力、加工工具(ju)技(ji)術等,也具(ju)有非常重要的(de)(de)(de)意義(yi)。
2006年(nian)5月25日(ri),廟后山遺址被中華人(ren)民共和國國務院公布為第六(liu)批(pi)全國重點文物(wu)保(bao)護單位。
2016年(nian),本溪滿族自治(zhi)縣文化廣播(bo)電影(ying)電視(shi)局開展(zhan)了廟后山(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)址(zhi)危巖體搶(qiang)險加(jia)固(gu)及洞口防護(hu)建(jian)設工程,對遺址(zhi)A洞的(de)洞體坍塌采取緊急搶(qiang)險加(jia)固(gu)措施(shi),并對原有失效的(de)洞門防護(hu)棚(peng)予以(yi)拆(chai)除,重建(jian)1處(chu)與山(shan)(shan)體相協(xie)調的(de)拱(gong)形防護(hu)棚(peng);同時(shi),對其他2處(chu)洞室的(de)危巖進行適當(dang)的(de)加(jia)固(gu)后,對洞口危險地帶設置(zhi)拱(gong)形防護(hu)棚(peng)進行防護(hu)。
廟(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址填補了中國東北地區(qu)早期人(ren)類歷史的空白(bai),被命名為“廟(miao)后山(shan)文化”,廟(miao)后山(shan)文化與(yu)北京(jing)山(shan)頂洞人(ren)、周(zhou)口店人(ren)等古(gu)人(ren)類所(suo)處年代為同一時(shi)代。