舊石器時(shi)代初期(qi),廟后山遺址已有人(ren)類(lei)活動。
1978年,廟后山(shan)遺(yi)址被當地村民(min)開山(shan)打石時發(fa)現。
1978至1983年,遼寧(ning)省本溪市考古部(bu)門對廟(miao)后(hou)山遺(yi)址進行(xing)了(le)4次發掘。
2012年(nian)7月,遼寧省本溪市(shi)考古(gu)部門再次啟(qi)動廟后山遺址考古(gu)發掘工作。
廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺址坐落在(zai)本溪縣山(shan)城(cheng)子鄉(xiang)山(shan)城(cheng)子村東,位于山(shan)南坡的(de)(de)(de)一個(ge)天然洞(dong)(dong)穴中。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺址一帶通稱遼(liao)東山(shan)地(di),周圍山(shan)巒(luan)重(zhong)疊,基巖由(you)奧(ao)陶系馬家溝(gou)組灰巖組成,地(di)下(xia)水豐(feng)富,太子河(he)的(de)(de)(de)支流(liu)湯(tang)河(he)從山(shan)下(xia)流(liu)過。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)洞(dong)(dong)穴位處湯(tang)河(he)的(de)(de)(de)二級階(jie)地(di),海拔約250米。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺址分上、下(xia)2個(ge)洞(dong)(dong),文化(hua)堆(dui)積共(gong)分8層,厚13.5米,上洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)第(di)7、8層,時代(dai)(dai)為(wei)晚(wan)更新世。下(xia)洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)第(di)4、5、6層為(wei)廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)文化(hua)層,地(di)質時代(dai)(dai)為(wei)中更新世晚(wan)期(qi)。
1978至(zhi)1983年,經過4次發掘,出(chu)(chu)土(tu)了人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)牙齒(chi)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)2顆,小孩股(gu)骨(gu)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)(ren)工打制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)及(ji)少量骨(gu)器(qi)(qi),并發現(xian)(xian)(xian)有(you)(you)用(yong)火遺址(zhi)。同時,還出(chu)(chu)土(tu)了72中(zhong)哺乳動物(wu)(wu)(wu)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi) [1] 。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)遺址(zhi)發現(xian)(xian)(xian)一(yi)批(pi)第(di)四紀哺乳動物(wu)(wu)(wu)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)和(he)(he)文(wen)化遺物(wu)(wu)(wu),出(chu)(chu)土(tu)1枚老年人(ren)(ren)(ren)右(you)側(ce)上(shang)犬齒(chi)、1枚成年人(ren)(ren)(ren)右(you)側(ce)下臼(jiu)齒(chi)和(he)(he)1件殘斷的幼年左側(ce)股(gu)骨(gu)。下洞文(wen)化堆積中(zhong)的遺物(wu)(wu)(wu),包括石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)(zhi)品(pin)和(he)(he)人(ren)(ren)(ren)工打制(zhi)(zhi)的骨(gu)器(qi)(qi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)原(yuan)料以(yi)灰(hui)(hui)綠色石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)英(ying)砂巖(yan)為(wei)主,類(lei)(lei)型(xing)有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)核、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片和(he)(he)各種(zhong)(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi),打制(zhi)(zhi)方法(fa)(fa)(fa)采(cai)用(yong)錘擊法(fa)(fa)(fa)和(he)(he)碰(peng)砧法(fa)(fa)(fa),偶爾用(yong)砸(za)(za)擊法(fa)(fa)(fa),廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)人(ren)(ren)(ren)主要(yao)用(yong)碰(peng)砧法(fa)(fa)(fa)打制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片,打出(chu)(chu)的石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片寬大而厚重,主要(yao)器(qi)(qi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)刮削器(qi)(qi)、尖狀(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)、砍砸(za)(za)器(qi)(qi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)球等(deng),加工簡(jian)單、粗糙(cao),特(te)征(zheng)與周口店等(deng)第(di)15地(di)點石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)相似(si)。與這(zhe)批(pi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)共(gong)出(chu)(chu)的骨(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)品(pin),有(you)(you)用(yong)大型(xing)哺乳動物(wu)(wu)(wu)管狀(zhuang)骨(gu)打制(zhi)(zhi)而成的刃(ren)類(lei)(lei)和(he)(he)尖狀(zhuang)骨(gu)器(qi)(qi),這(zhe)些骨(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)品(pin),打制(zhi)(zhi)方法(fa)(fa)(fa)簡(jian)單,用(yong)以(yi)補充石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)的不足(zu)。另(ling)外,在(zai)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)文(wen)化層(ceng)(ceng)中(zhong),發現(xian)(xian)(xian)灰(hui)(hui)燼、炭(tan)屑和(he)(he)燒過的碎骨(gu),灰(hui)(hui)燼層(ceng)(ceng)厚5-10厘(li)米,由粉末狀(zhuang)黑褐色物(wu)(wu)(wu)質(zhi)組成,中(zhong)間夾灰(hui)(hui)白色顆粒(li),是(shi)東北地(di)區繼金(jin)牛(niu)山(shan)人(ren)(ren)(ren)之后(hou)又(you)一(yi)處舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)時代早期(qi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)用(yong)火遺跡。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)出(chu)(chu)土(tu)的動物(wu)(wu)(wu)化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)共(gong)76種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)哺乳類(lei)(lei)有(you)(you)8個目72種(zhong)(zhong),較古老的動物(wu)(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)碩(shuo)獼猴、安氏中(zhong)華(hua)(hua)河(he)貍(li)(li)、變種(zhong)(zhong)狼、中(zhong)華(hua)(hua)貉、中(zhong)國(guo)鬣狗、似(si)劍齒(chi)虎(hu)、師氏中(zhong)華(hua)(hua)河(he)貍(li)(li)、三(san)門馬、梅氏犀、腫骨(gu)鹿等(deng),這(zhe)些動物(wu)(wu)(wu)中(zhong),絕滅種(zhong)(zhong)占53%以(yi)上(shang),種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)基本是(shi)華(hua)(hua)北地(di)區中(zhong)更(geng)新世(shi)典型(xing)動物(wu)(wu)(wu),也包括部分華(hua)(hua)北早更(geng)新世(shi)和(he)(he)第(di)三(san)紀殘余種(zhong)(zhong),地(di)質(zhi)時代為(wei)中(zhong)更(geng)新世(shi)。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)下洞動物(wu)(wu)(wu)群以(yi)喜熱類(lei)(lei)為(wei)主,植被以(yi)松、櫟等(deng)針、闊葉樹為(wei)主。上(shang)洞(即7、8層(ceng)(ceng))動物(wu)(wu)(wu)群,代表華(hua)(hua)北——東北晚更(geng)新世(shi)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei),絕滅種(zhong)(zhong)占38.4%,如(ru)披毛犀、猛犸象、原(yuan)始牛(niu)等(deng)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)(lei)。
從(cong)2012年7月開始,廟后(hou)山遺(yi)(yi)址考古(gu)發掘(jue)工作再次(ci)啟動,發掘(jue)出1萬余件(jian)古(gu)生物化石、100余件(jian)土石器以及(ji)一定數(shu)量的(de)刃(ren)類、尖(jian)類骨器等(deng),在遺(yi)(yi)址現場東(dong)側發掘(jue)出火塘遺(yi)(yi)址。
廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發現,證(zheng)明(ming)了原始(shi)社會舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)時代(dai)初期,地(di)(di)處(chu)關外的(de)(de)(de)遼東(dong)地(di)(di)區有(you)了人(ren)類(lei)活(huo)動(dong)。對廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)表明(ming),這支早期人(ren)類(lei)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化和(he)(he)華北的(de)(de)(de)舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化有(you)密切聯系(xi)。廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)考古發掘(jue)出的(de)(de)(de)火塘遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi),表明(ming)廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)古人(ren)類(lei)已掌握了用火烤肉和(he)(he)敲骨吸髓(sui)的(de)(de)(de)食(shi)用方法(fa),是人(ren)類(lei)踏入文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)要標(biao)志。廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)對于(yu)(yu)探索中國(guo)遠古文(wen)(wen)(wen)化的(de)(de)(de)來(lai)龍去脈,具有(you)十分重(zhong)要的(de)(de)(de)意義,為中國(guo)東(dong)北第(di)四紀地(di)(di)質(zhi)學、古生(sheng)物學的(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)提供了重(zhong)要資(zi)料。廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)出土了大量(liang)石(shi)器(qi)、骨片和(he)(he)動(dong)物化石(shi),具有(you)很高的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物價值(zhi)、考古價值(zhi)和(he)(he)科研(yan)價值(zhi)。廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)為研(yan)究(jiu)中國(guo)古人(ren)類(lei)分布(bu)和(he)(he)發展以及古地(di)(di)理環境等(deng)提供了寶貴資(zi)料,揭示出其與華北地(di)(di)區舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化的(de)(de)(de)密切聯系(xi),對于(yu)(yu)考證(zheng)廟(miao)后(hou)(hou)山(shan)古人(ren)類(lei)的(de)(de)(de)活(huo)動(dong)范圍、生(sheng)存能力、加工工具技術等(deng),也具有(you)非常重(zhong)要的(de)(de)(de)意義。
2006年(nian)5月25日,廟(miao)后(hou)山遺址被中華人民共(gong)和(he)國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)務(wu)院公(gong)布(bu)為第(di)六批全國(guo)(guo)重點文物保護單(dan)位。
2016年(nian),本溪滿族自治縣文化廣播電影電視局開展了廟后山遺址(zhi)址(zhi)危(wei)巖體(ti)搶險(xian)加固及洞(dong)口(kou)防(fang)護建設工程,對遺址(zhi)A洞(dong)的(de)洞(dong)體(ti)坍塌采取緊急搶險(xian)加固措施,并對原有失效的(de)洞(dong)門防(fang)護棚(peng)予以(yi)拆除,重建1處(chu)與山體(ti)相協(xie)調(diao)的(de)拱形(xing)防(fang)護棚(peng);同時(shi),對其他2處(chu)洞(dong)室的(de)危(wei)巖進(jin)行適當的(de)加固后,對洞(dong)口(kou)危(wei)險(xian)地帶(dai)設置(zhi)拱形(xing)防(fang)護棚(peng)進(jin)行防(fang)護。
廟后山(shan)(shan)遺址填補(bu)了中(zhong)國東(dong)北地區早期人(ren)(ren)類歷史的空白,被命名(ming)為“廟后山(shan)(shan)文化”,廟后山(shan)(shan)文化與北京山(shan)(shan)頂洞人(ren)(ren)、周口店人(ren)(ren)等(deng)古(gu)人(ren)(ren)類所(suo)處(chu)年代為同(tong)一時代。