舊石器時代初期,廟后山遺址已有人類(lei)活動。
1978年,廟(miao)后山遺(yi)址被當地村(cun)民開山打石時發現。
1978至1983年,遼寧省本溪市考(kao)古(gu)部(bu)門對(dui)廟(miao)后(hou)山遺址進(jin)行(xing)了(le)4次發掘。
2012年7月,遼寧省本溪市考(kao)古(gu)部門再次啟動廟后山遺址考(kao)古(gu)發掘工作(zuo)。
廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址坐落在本(ben)溪縣(xian)山(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子鄉山(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子村(cun)東(dong),位于山(shan)(shan)南坡的(de)一個(ge)天然洞穴(xue)中。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址一帶通稱(cheng)遼東(dong)山(shan)(shan)地(di),周圍(wei)山(shan)(shan)巒重疊,基巖由奧(ao)陶系馬家溝組灰巖組成,地(di)下(xia)水豐富,太(tai)子河的(de)支流(liu)湯河從山(shan)(shan)下(xia)流(liu)過。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)洞穴(xue)位處湯河的(de)二級階(jie)地(di),海(hai)拔約250米。廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址分(fen)(fen)上(shang)、下(xia)2個(ge)洞,文(wen)化堆積共(gong)分(fen)(fen)8層(ceng),厚13.5米,上(shang)洞的(de)第(di)7、8層(ceng),時代(dai)為晚更(geng)新世。下(xia)洞的(de)第(di)4、5、6層(ceng)為廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)化層(ceng),地(di)質時代(dai)為中更(geng)新世晚期。
1978至1983年(nian),經過4次發(fa)(fa)(fa)掘,出土了人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)牙(ya)齒(chi)(chi)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)2顆(ke),小(xiao)孩股骨化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)、人(ren)(ren)工打制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)及少量骨器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),并發(fa)(fa)(fa)現有(you)(you)用(yong)火(huo)遺(yi)址。同時,還出土了72中(zhong)(zhong)哺(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)乳(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi) [1] 。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)遺(yi)址發(fa)(fa)(fa)現一批第(di)四紀哺(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)乳(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)、人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)和文化(hua)(hua)(hua)遺(yi)物(wu)(wu),出土1枚老(lao)年(nian)人(ren)(ren)右側(ce)上(shang)犬齒(chi)(chi)、1枚成年(nian)人(ren)(ren)右側(ce)下臼齒(chi)(chi)和1件殘斷的(de)(de)幼(you)年(nian)左側(ce)股骨。下洞(dong)文化(hua)(hua)(hua)堆積中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)遺(yi)物(wu)(wu),包括石(shi)制(zhi)(zhi)品和人(ren)(ren)工打制(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)骨器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)原(yuan)料以(yi)(yi)灰綠色石(shi)英砂(sha)巖為(wei)主,類(lei)(lei)型(xing)有(you)(you)石(shi)核、石(shi)片和各種(zhong)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),打制(zhi)(zhi)方(fang)法(fa)采用(yong)錘擊法(fa)和碰砧(zhen)法(fa),偶爾用(yong)砸(za)擊法(fa),廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)人(ren)(ren)主要用(yong)碰砧(zhen)法(fa)打制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)片,打出的(de)(de)石(shi)片寬大而厚重,主要器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)刮削器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、尖(jian)狀(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、砍砸(za)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、石(shi)球(qiu)等(deng),加工簡(jian)單、粗糙,特征與(yu)周口(kou)店等(deng)第(di)15地點石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)相(xiang)似。與(yu)這(zhe)批石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)共出的(de)(de)骨制(zhi)(zhi)品,有(you)(you)用(yong)大型(xing)哺(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)乳(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)管狀(zhuang)骨打制(zhi)(zhi)而成的(de)(de)刃類(lei)(lei)和尖(jian)狀(zhuang)骨器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),這(zhe)些骨制(zhi)(zhi)品,打制(zhi)(zhi)方(fang)法(fa)簡(jian)單,用(yong)以(yi)(yi)補充石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)不足。另外,在舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)文化(hua)(hua)(hua)層中(zhong)(zhong),發(fa)(fa)(fa)現灰燼(jin)、炭屑和燒過的(de)(de)碎(sui)骨,灰燼(jin)層厚5-10厘米,由粉末狀(zhuang)黑褐(he)色物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)組成,中(zhong)(zhong)間夾灰白色顆(ke)粒,是(shi)東(dong)北(bei)地區繼(ji)金牛山(shan)人(ren)(ren)之后(hou)又一處舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時代早期人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)用(yong)火(huo)遺(yi)跡。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)出土的(de)(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)共76種(zhong),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)哺(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)乳(ru)類(lei)(lei)有(you)(you)8個目72種(zhong),較古老(lao)的(de)(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)碩獼猴、安氏中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河貍、變(bian)種(zhong)狼、中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)貉(he)、中(zhong)(zhong)國鬣(lie)狗、似劍齒(chi)(chi)虎(hu)、師氏中(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河貍、三(san)門馬(ma)、梅氏犀、腫骨鹿等(deng),這(zhe)些動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)中(zhong)(zhong),絕滅種(zhong)占(zhan)53%以(yi)(yi)上(shang),種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)基本是(shi)華(hua)北(bei)地區中(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)典型(xing)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu),也(ye)包括部分華(hua)北(bei)早更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)和第(di)三(san)紀殘余種(zhong),地質(zhi)時代為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)。廟(miao)后(hou)山(shan)下洞(dong)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)群以(yi)(yi)喜(xi)熱類(lei)(lei)為(wei)主,植被以(yi)(yi)松、櫟(li)等(deng)針、闊葉(xie)樹為(wei)主。上(shang)洞(dong)(即7、8層)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)群,代表(biao)華(hua)北(bei)——東(dong)北(bei)晚更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei),絕滅種(zhong)占(zhan)38.4%,如披毛犀、猛犸(ma)象、原(yuan)始牛等(deng)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)。
從(cong)2012年7月開始,廟后山遺址考古發(fa)掘工作再次(ci)啟動,發(fa)掘出1萬余件古生物化石、100余件土石器以及一定數量的(de)刃(ren)類、尖類骨器等,在(zai)遺址現場東側(ce)發(fa)掘出火(huo)塘遺址。
廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址的(de)(de)(de)(de)發現,證(zheng)明(ming)了(le)(le)原始社(she)會舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時代初期,地(di)處關外的(de)(de)(de)(de)遼東地(di)區有了(le)(le)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)活(huo)動。對廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)表(biao)明(ming),這(zhe)支早(zao)期人(ren)(ren)類(lei)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)和(he)(he)華(hua)北(bei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)有密(mi)切聯系。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址考古發掘出的(de)(de)(de)(de)火(huo)塘遺(yi)址,表(biao)明(ming)廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)古人(ren)(ren)類(lei)已(yi)掌握(wo)了(le)(le)用火(huo)烤肉和(he)(he)敲骨(gu)吸髓(sui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)食用方(fang)法,是(shi)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)踏(ta)入文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)(de)重要(yao)標(biao)志(zhi)。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址對于探索中(zhong)國(guo)遠(yuan)古文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)來龍去脈,具有十分重要(yao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)意(yi)義(yi),為(wei)中(zhong)國(guo)東北(bei)第四紀地(di)質學、古生物(wu)學的(de)(de)(de)(de)研(yan)究(jiu)提供(gong)了(le)(le)重要(yao)資料。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址出土了(le)(le)大量石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、骨(gu)片(pian)和(he)(he)動物(wu)化(hua)石(shi),具有很高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)價(jia)值、考古價(jia)值和(he)(he)科研(yan)價(jia)值。廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址為(wei)研(yan)究(jiu)中(zhong)國(guo)古人(ren)(ren)類(lei)分布(bu)和(he)(he)發展以及古地(di)理環境等(deng)提供(gong)了(le)(le)寶(bao)貴資料,揭(jie)示出其與(yu)華(hua)北(bei)地(di)區舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)密(mi)切聯系,對于考證(zheng)廟(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)古人(ren)(ren)類(lei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)活(huo)動范(fan)圍、生存能(neng)力、加工工具技術等(deng),也具有非常(chang)重要(yao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)意(yi)義(yi)。
2006年5月(yue)25日,廟后山遺(yi)址(zhi)被中華人民共和國國務(wu)院公布為第六批全國重點文物保護(hu)單位。
2016年,本溪(xi)滿族自治縣文(wen)化廣播電影電視局開展了廟后(hou)山(shan)遺址址危(wei)(wei)(wei)巖體搶險加固(gu)及洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)防(fang)(fang)護建設工程,對遺址A洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)的(de)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)體坍(tan)塌采取緊急搶險加固(gu)措(cuo)施,并對原有失效的(de)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)門(men)防(fang)(fang)護棚予(yu)以拆除,重建1處與山(shan)體相協(xie)調的(de)拱形(xing)防(fang)(fang)護棚;同時(shi),對其他2處洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)室的(de)危(wei)(wei)(wei)巖進(jin)行(xing)適當的(de)加固(gu)后(hou),對洞(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)危(wei)(wei)(wei)險地帶設置(zhi)拱形(xing)防(fang)(fang)護棚進(jin)行(xing)防(fang)(fang)護。
廟(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺址填補了(le)中(zhong)國東北地區早(zao)期人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)歷史(shi)的空白(bai),被命名為“廟(miao)(miao)后山(shan)文化(hua)”,廟(miao)(miao)后山(shan)文化(hua)與北京(jing)山(shan)頂洞人(ren)(ren)(ren)、周口店(dian)人(ren)(ren)(ren)等古(gu)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)所處年代為同(tong)一時代。