1960年(nian),廣東省(sheng)博物(wu)館(guan)工作(zuo)人員在西江兩岸進行(xing)考古普查時,發(fa)現(xian)了此遺址,編(bian)為5號洞。
1964年由省(sheng)博(bo)(bo)物館考古(gu)(gu)隊(dui)進(jin)行第一次(ci)試(shi)掘(jue)探方(fang)。1973年7月省(sheng)考古(gu)(gu)隊(dui)和縣(xian)文(wen)(wen)化館人員(yuan)進(jin)行第二(er)次(ci)發掘(jue)。1978年,省(sheng)考古(gu)(gu)大(da)(da)隊(dui)、地區博(bo)(bo)物館與(yu)縣(xian)文(wen)(wen)化館聯(lian)合組成(cheng)發掘(jue)隊(dui)進(jin)行第三次(ci)發掘(jue)。1983年1月省(sheng)考古(gu)(gu)大(da)(da)隊(dui)與(yu)縣(xian)文(wen)(wen)化館人員(yuan)又進(jin)行第四次(ci)發掘(jue)。
發掘出(chu)的文(wen)物中(zhong)有(you)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)(dai)晚(wan)期(qi)的“智人(ren)”牙齒(chi)1枚(mei),遺(yi)物四百余件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),動(dong)物化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)千余件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。發掘出(chu)土的石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)共有(you)243件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),分打制(zhi)和磨制(zhi)兩種。打制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)227件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有(you)砍砸器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)42件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),刮削器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)45件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)、石(shi)(shi)錘(chui)14件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)砧1件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)片29件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)核(he)50件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),半(ban)成品46件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian);磨制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)16件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有(you)切割器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)7件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),穿孔石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)9件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)6件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有(you)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)鏃1件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),骨(gu)(gu)(gu)錐3件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),半(ban)成品2件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。據北京社(she)會科學院考古研究所碳(tan)14化(hua)(hua)(hua)驗(yan)室以螺蚌殼作標本進行的測定和北京大學碳(tan)14實驗(yan)室用獸骨(gu)(gu)(gu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)作標本進行的測定,其(qi)(qi)結果:文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)厚達2.5米,分上、中(zhong)、下(xia)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng),上文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距今(jin)(1978年(nian),下(xia)同)為14262年(nian),中(zhong)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距今(jin)為15350年(nian),下(xia)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距今(jin)為16650年(nian)。據此,獨石(shi)(shi)仔洞穴(xue)遺(yi)址的年(nian)代(dai)(dai),定為舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)(dai)晚(wan)期(qi)之末至新石(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)(dai)初(chu)期(qi)。該遺(yi)址已列(lie)為廣東省文(wen)物保護單位(wei)。
位于(yu)陽(yang)(yang)春北部的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)(he)(he)朗鎮,周圍十幾(ji)座秀(xiu)麗(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰(feng)環(huan)繞(rao),山(shan)(shan)(shan)間是(shi)平整(zheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)秧(yang)田(tian)和農舍,一(yi)(yi)(yi)條(tiao)小(xiao)河(he)(he)(he)(he)蜿蜒流過,在(zai)高(gao)(gao)大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)凌霄巖(yan)(yan)前并沒有(you)(you)止步,而(er)是(shi)穿山(shan)(shan)(shan)而(er)過,向北流到了鄰縣(xian)云浮。在(zai)與(yu)另一(yi)(yi)(yi)條(tiao)名(ming)叫玉(yu)溪的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)(he)(he)水(shui)匯合(he)后(hou),又返回河(he)(he)(he)(he)朗,從(cong)此一(yi)(yi)(yi)直(zhi)向南(nan),一(yi)(yi)(yi)百八十公里之后(hou),進入南(nan)中國(guo)海。 凌霄巖(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)外貌(mao)與(yu)其他相鄰的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)峰(feng)并沒有(you)(you)太大(da)(da)差(cha)異,但是(shi)隨著河(he)(he)(he)(he)水(shui)走(zou)進山(shan)(shan)(shan)洞(dong)(dong),再爬上三十多米高(gao)(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)陡坡,你(ni)就會(hui)發現一(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)神奇(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)熔巖(yan)(yan)世界。凌霄巖(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)溶洞(dong)(dong)從(cong)地下暗河(he)(he)(he)(he)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)(he)(he)面算(suan)起,有(you)(you)177米高(gao)(gao),全洞(dong)(dong)分(fen)為(wei)四層(ceng),第(di)一(yi)(yi)(yi)層(ceng)是(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)條(tiao)縱貫全洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)暗河(he)(he)(he)(he),這(zhe)條(tiao)河(he)(he)(he)(he)發源(yuan)在(zai)陽(yang)(yang)春境內,流過山(shan)(shan)(shan)洞(dong)(dong)后(hou)便(bian)進入了另一(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)縣(xian)境。陽(yang)(yang)春和鄰縣(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鄉民(min),來(lai)來(lai)往往都要從(cong)這(zhe)條(tiao)暗河(he)(he)(he)(he)上通過。溶洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)第(di)二層(ceng)是(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)有(you)(you)60米高(gao)(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)熔巖(yan)(yan)大(da)(da)廳(ting),19根(gen)巨大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)石筍、石柱矗立在(zai)大(da)(da)廳(ting)周圍,這(zhe)些石柱,有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)如高(gao)(gao)達數十米的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“羅漢松”,有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)像層(ceng)層(ceng)疊疊的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“蘑菇(gu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,更(geng)有(you)(you)銀光閃爍(shuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“玉(yu)柱瓊臺”,現在(zai),這(zhe)個(ge)大(da)(da)廳(ting)被命名(ming)為(wei)凌霄大(da)(da)殿(dian),是(shi)凌霄巖(yan)(yan)溶洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)核心部分(fen)。
玉(yu)溪三(san)(san)(san)(san)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)景(jing)區(qu)位于陽(yang)春市(shi)西北部,距市(shi)區(qu)約(yue)(yue)70公(gong)里,省(sheng)道(dao)s369線(xian)繞景(jing)區(qu)而過。該景(jing)區(qu)既是省(sheng)級(ji)風景(jing)名勝區(qu),又是國家地質公(gong)園的(de)重要組(zu)成部分。玉(yu)溪三(san)(san)(san)(san)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)景(jing)區(qu)由漠陽(yang)江上游的(de)甘婪河(he)水穿透三(san)(san)(san)(san)座石山溶蝕而成,全長3公(gong)里多,均(jun)可(ke)(ke)坐(zuo)船(chuan)游覽,由二(er)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)乘船(chuan)往(wang)上游。第二(er)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)長約(yue)(yue)330米(mi),河(he)水清(qing)澈(che)(che)流璧,水中(zhong)多生長鯉魚(yu)。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)景(jing)物(wu)豐富,尤以“三(san)(san)(san)(san)變石”為趣, 詩人(ren)張永枚曰:“遠似漁翁釣清(qing)流,近如獅子滾繡球,忽變犀牛(niu)望明月(yue),一(yi)石三(san)(san)(san)(san)景(jing)迷輕舟(zhou)”。第一(yi)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)頂的(de)“皇(huang)冠”石,酷似皇(huang)冠,游人(ren)在船(chuan)上隨(sui)即可(ke)(ke)拍攝一(yi)幅頭戴皇(huang)冠的(de)照片。 第一(yi)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)長400米(mi),上面有一(yi)層旱洞(dong)(dong)(dong),水面距洞(dong)(dong)(dong)頂48米(mi),該洞(dong)(dong)(dong)以“金(jin)盞疊泉”較為壯觀――一(yi)個個金(jin)色石盞滿載清(qing)澈(che)(che)的(de)泉水逐層下溢。詩人(ren)韋丘(qiu)贊道(dao):“串(chuan)玉(yu)溪穿三(san)(san)(san)(san)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)天,柔情(qing)碧水石能言,聲聲燕語留歸客(ke),舉(ju)槳猶(you)疑落槳難(nan)。”在玉(yu)溪二(er)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)下游的(de)1公(gong)里處,還有玉(yu)溪第三(san)(san)(san)(san)洞(dong)(dong)(dong),洞(dong)(dong)(dong)長約(yue)(yue)500米(mi),既可(ke)(ke)坐(zuo)船(chuan)游玩(wan),又可(ke)(ke)登巖賞景(jing),洞(dong)(dong)(dong)中(zhong)景(jing)物(wu)千姿百態(tai),栩栩如生。坐(zuo)船(chuan)慢游其(qi)中(zhong),如穿梭在山水畫廊,頗有桃源之趣。