遺址位于(yu)湖(hu)北(bei)省十堰(yan)市(shi)鄖西縣香口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)鄉黃(huang)云鋪村(cun),是(shi)舊(jiu)石器時代(dai)的(de)(de)古遺址。黃(huang)龍(long)(long)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)地(di)理坐(zuo)標為(wei)(wei) 110°13′04.3″E, 33°07′62.8″N, 海(hai)拔約(yue)601 m. 黃(huang)龍(long)(long)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)處于(yu)秦嶺東(dong)段南麓(lu)丘陵山(shan)地(di), 發育于(yu)古生(sheng)界寒武(wu)系中統(tong)岳家坪組的(de)(de)石灰巖(yan)地(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng), 該(gai)組地(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)在黃(huang)龍(long)(long)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)附近(jin)表現為(wei)(wei)黑色(se)中-薄(bo)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)狀(zhuang)泥質(zhi)灰巖(yan)和含碳泥質(zhi)灰巖(yan). 該(gai)區(qu)在地(di)質(zhi)構(gou)造上(shang)屬南秦嶺-印支褶(zhe)皺帶東(dong)段, 地(di)貌以中、低山(shan)和盆地(di)為(wei)(wei)主, 地(di)勢(shi)起伏變(bian)化大(da)(da), 山(shan)坡陡峻, 溝(gou)壑縱橫. 黃(huang)龍(long)(long)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)型管狀(zhuang)溶洞(dong)(dong)(dong), 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴平面主軸近(jin)東(dong)北(bei)-西南向. 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)原(yuan)始寬度(du)約(yue) 27.8 m, 高約(yue)11 m. 現初(chu)步探(tan)明(ming)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴水平深度(du)約(yue)400余米(未到盡(jin)頭(tou)), 寬度(du)11~117 m. 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)朝向東(dong)北(bei), 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)前有(you)發源于(yu)秦嶺的(de)(de)大(da)(da)水河(he)(漢(han)江支流), 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)高出河(he)水約(yue)7.8 m. 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)前是(shi)順大(da)(da)水河(he)發育的(de)(de)狹長平川, 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴后(hou)是(shi)綿(mian)延(yan)的(de)(de)黃(huang)龍(long)(long)山(shan)(主峰1277 m). 洞(dong)(dong)(dong)內原(yuan)生(sheng)堆(dui)積深厚, 堆(dui)積物頂部普(pu)遍發育鈣板層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng). 堆(dui)積物在洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口(kou)(kou)(kou)(kou)處位置(zhi)較低, 向洞(dong)(dong)(dong)里逐漸抬升, 與洞(dong)(dong)(dong)穴頂部間(jian)距漸小. 堆(dui)積物結構(gou)簡單, 自(zi)然分(fen)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)較清楚, 自(zi)上(shang)而下(xia)可(ke)劃分(fen)為(wei)(wei)5層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。
(1) 頂鈣板層: 乳白色或棕黃色, 大多結構致密(mi)、純凈, 局(ju)部不純凈者結構疏松. 在洞內分布比較普遍, 厚約(yue)2~ 28 cm;
(2) 粉(fen)砂(sha)質(zhi)黏(nian)(nian)土(tu)-砂(sha)礫層(ceng)(ceng): 粉(fen)砂(sha)質(zhi)黏(nian)(nian)土(tu)與(yu)砂(sha)礫呈“同層(ceng)(ceng)異相”: 靠洞(dong)口的堆積為含黏(nian)(nian)土(tu)基(ji)質(zhi)的砂(sha)礫, 向洞(dong)內則砂(sha)礫逐(zhu)漸(jian)變少、礫徑漸(jian)小(xiao), 在洞(dong)內深處轉(zhuan)變為粉(fen)砂(sha)質(zhi)黏(nian)(nian)土(tu). 洞(dong)內地勢(shi)較高處該層(ceng)(ceng)缺失. 無包含物. 厚(hou)1~201 cm;
(3) 紅色粉(fen)砂質黏(nian)土層(ceng)(ceng): 層(ceng)(ceng)內間(jian)續發育2層(ceng)(ceng)薄(bo)鈣(gai)板(ban), 鈣(gai)板(ban)呈局部(bu)(bu)、斷續發育, 棕(zong)黃色. 鈣(gai)板(ban)層(ceng)(ceng)下(xia)方局部(bu)(bu)發育有(you)孤立的石筍, 與鈣(gai)板(ban)層(ceng)(ceng)無直(zhi)接連接. 本層(ceng)(ceng)厚58~101 cm;
(4) 石灰(hui)巖(yan)風化物(wu)堆積層: 結構較松散, 主要為石灰(hui)巖(yan)風化角礫和風化殘余黏土基質等. 無包含物(wu), 厚41~66 cm;
(5) 棕(zong)紅色粉(fen)砂質黏土(tu), 結構較(jiao)緊密, 無包含物, 厚18~26 cm。
2013年5月 ,被國務院核(he)定公布(bu)為第(di)七(qi)批全國重點文物保護單位(wei)。
黃龍洞出土動物化石1700余件, 經初步鑒定為(wei)11目(mu)50種.
(1)靈長目(mu)(mu)﹕碩獼猴(hou)、獼猴(hou)、灰(hui)(hui)葉猴(hou) (2) 十足目(mu)(mu)﹕重石束腹蟹(xie) (3) 無尾(wei)目(mu)(mu)﹕蛙(wa) (4) 食(shi)蟲目(mu)(mu)﹕微(wei)尾(wei)、刺(ci)猬 (5) 翼(yi)手目(mu)(mu)﹕普氏(shi)蹄蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、大馬蹄蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、馬鐵菊頭(tou)蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、皮(pi)氏(shi)菊頭(tou)蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、大耳菊頭(tou)蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、印度假吸吸血蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、鼠(shu)耳蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu)、白腹管鼻蝠(fu)(fu)(fu)(fu) (6) 兔形目(mu)(mu):鼠(shu)兔 (7) 嚙齒(chi)目(mu)(mu):苛南絨鼠(shu)、變異(yi)倉鼠(shu)、灰(hui)(hui)鼯(wu)(wu)鼠(shu)、紅白鼯(wu)(wu)鼠(shu)、赤(chi)腹松鼠(shu)、側紋(wen)巖松鼠(shu)、毛耳鼯(wu)(wu)鼠(shu)、華南豪豬、中華竹(zhu)鼠(shu) (8) 食(shi)肉目(mu)(mu)﹕云豹、最后鬣狗、豺、狼、豬獾、果子貍、大熊貓巴氏(shi)亞種(zhong)、黑(hei)熊、柯氏(shi)西藏(zang)熊、華南虎(hu)、野貓 (9) 長鼻目(mu)(mu)﹕東方劍齒(chi)象(10) 奇蹄目(mu)(mu)﹕中國犀、基氏(shi)貝爾格犀、華南巨(ju)貘(11) 偶蹄目(mu)(mu):野豬、香(xiang)麝、赤(chi)麂、獐、水鹿、梅花鹿、青羊(yang)、羚羊(yang)、蘇門羚。
該動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)包(bao)含(han)一定(ding)數(shu)量的(de)(de)更(geng)新世絕(jue)滅種(zhong)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu), 如(ru)碩獼(mi)猴(hou)、變異倉鼠(shu)、最后(hou)鬣(lie)狗、大熊貓巴(ba)氏亞種(zhong)、柯氏西藏熊、東方劍(jian)齒象(xiang)、中(zhong)國犀、華南(nan)巨(ju)貘(mo)等(deng), 同時(shi)也有(you)(you)較(jiao)多(duo)現(xian)(xian)生(sheng)種(zhong), 如(ru)云豹、豺、狼、豬獾、果子貍(li)、野豬、水(shui)鹿(lu)、梅花鹿(lu)等(deng)。 動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)組(zu)合具(ju)備更(geng)新世中(zhong)、晚(wan)期的(de)(de)時(shi)代特(te)點(dian)(dian), 總體面貌表(biao)現(xian)(xian)出大熊貓-劍(jian)齒象(xiang)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)特(te)征. 動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)生(sheng)態反映該遺址是(shi)以熱(re)(re)帶(dai)、亞熱(re)(re)帶(dai)森(sen)林環(huan)境景觀為(wei)(wei)主, 如(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)中(zhong)發(fa)現(xian)(xian)有(you)(you)低地密林、熱(re)(re)帶(dai)雨林以樹棲生(sheng)活(huo)為(wei)(wei)主的(de)(de)云豹、長綠闊葉(xie)林帶(dai)生(sheng)活(huo)的(de)(de)毛耳鼯鼠(shu)、及數(shu)量較(jiao)多(duo)的(de)(de)菊頭(tou)蝠等(deng). 菊頭(tou)蝠是(shi)典型的(de)(de)森(sen)林性動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu), 并且只在(zai)(zai)大片森(sen)林環(huan)境下適(shi)宜生(sheng)存, 因此又被動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)學家(jia)稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)森(sen)林環(huan)境的(de)(de)標志. 動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)中(zhong)也有(you)(you)具(ju)山地特(te)征的(de)(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)和以秦(qin)嶺為(wei)(wei)分布中(zhong)心的(de)(de)區(qu)(qu)域性動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu), 前者如(ru)蘇門羚、青(qing)羊等(deng). 后(hou)者如(ru)苛南(nan)絨(rong)鼠(shu)等(deng). 黃龍洞(dong)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)(wu)(wu)群(qun)反映出該遺址處于秦(qin)嶺南(nan)麓(lu)的(de)(de)自然(ran)區(qu)(qu)位特(te)點(dian)(dian), 并且還表(biao)示中(zhong)國南(nan)北氣候分界(jie)線-秦(qin)嶺山區(qu)(qu)(高度)在(zai)(zai)黃龍洞(dong)古遺址時(shi)期已經具(ju)有(you)(you)規模。
發現的(de)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)化石(shi)共(gong) 5 枚, 分別為下(xia)頜左側第(di)二(er)或(huo)第(di)三(san)臼(jiu)齒(chi)(chi)、下(xia)頜右側第(di)二(er)臼(jiu)齒(chi)(chi)、上(shang)頜左側犬齒(chi)(chi)、下(xia)頜右側第(di)一或(huo)第(di)二(er)門齒(chi)(chi)、上(shang)頜左側第(di)三(san)臼(jiu)齒(chi)(chi). 這些牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)呈白色或(huo)黃褐色, 有(you)一定程度的(de)石(shi)化. 除左上(shang)頜第(di)三(san)臼(jiu)齒(chi)(chi)齒(chi)(chi)冠咬合面磨(mo)耗(hao)較(jiao)輕(qing)(qing), 可能代表著(zhu)年(nian)輕(qing)(qing)個體外, 其(qi)余(yu)4枚牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)磨(mo)耗(hao)均(jun)較(jiao)嚴重, 屬于壯年(nian)以上(shang)的(de)個體. 初(chu)步觀察顯示下(xia)頜門齒(chi)(chi)舌側面呈明顯的(de)鏟(chan)形, 但無(wu)常(chang)見于直立(li)人(ren)(ren)的(de)齒(chi)(chi)結節和指狀(zhuang)突. 與迄今(jin)在中(zhong)國境內(nei)發現的(de)古人(ren)(ren)類(lei)牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)測量(liang)數據對比, 黃龍(long)洞牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)尺寸比以周口店為代表的(de)直立(li)人(ren)(ren)牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)要小, 處在晚(wan)期智(zhi)人(ren)(ren)牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)尺寸變(bian)異(yi)范圍之(zhi)內(nei). 結合洞穴時代、動物群及年(nian)代測試結果綜合分析, 在黃龍(long)洞發現的(de)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)牙(ya)(ya)(ya)齒(chi)(chi)代表著(zhu)晚(wan)期智(zhi)人(ren)(ren),建(jian)議簡稱“鄖西人(ren)(ren)”。
試掘共發現(xian)古人(ren)類(lei)制(zhi)作(zuo)和(he)使用(yong)的(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)器及(ji)其副產品(pin)22件(jian). 這些人(ren)工(gong)石(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品(pin)多為(wei)(wei)古人(ren)類(lei)制(zhi)作(zuo)石(shi)(shi)質(zhi)工(gong)具所產生(sheng)的(de)(de)斷塊(kuai)(kuai)和(he)石(shi)(shi)片. 經加(jia)工(gong)成(cheng)型的(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)器包括刮削器、砍砸器、手鎬和(he)石(shi)(shi)錐. 刮削器共5件(jian), 是(shi)數(shu)量(liang)多的(de)(de)器類(lei), 原料(liao)選用(yong)脈石(shi)(shi)英和(he)燧石(shi)(shi), 系將石(shi)(shi)片薄(bo)銳的(de)(de)邊緣用(yong)石(shi)(shi)錘(chui)打制(zhi)出(chu)鋒利(li)的(de)(de)刃(ren)(ren)口(kou), 以(yi)供刮削、切(qie)割之用(yong). 手鎬3件(jian), 原料(liao)為(wei)(wei)質(zhi)地(di)較粗的(de)(de)粉砂巖(yan)、火山巖(yan)和(he)變質(zhi)巖(yan), 原坯為(wei)(wei)卵石(shi)(shi)塊(kuai)(kuai), 系將一端打制(zhi)出(chu)突起而(er)厚(hou)鈍(dun)的(de)(de)尖刃(ren)(ren), 以(yi)利(li)挖掘. 其中2件(jian)制(zhi)作(zuo)精(jing)良、規范, 在(zai)尖部從卵石(shi)(shi)原有的(de)(de)弧(hu)面上向一面加(jia)工(gong)成(cheng)可供使用(yong)的(de)(de)尖刃(ren)(ren), 相對一端則敲打變鈍(dun), 適(shi)宜抓握, 持握手中舒適(shi)而(er)適(shi)用(yong). 石(shi)(shi)錐只有1件(jian), 用(yong)脈石(shi)(shi)英石(shi)(shi)片制(zhi)成(cheng), 加(jia)工(gong)出(chu)的(de)(de)兩條(tiao)薄(bo)銳的(de)(de)刃(ren)(ren)緣交匯成(cheng)龜首狀的(de)(de)短(duan)而(er)鈍(dun)的(de)(de)尖刃(ren)(ren). 1件(jian)砍砸器系用(yong)碧(bi)玉裂(lie)片制(zhi)成(cheng), 在(zai)多個(ge)邊緣有加(jia)工(gong)和(he)使用(yong)的(de)(de)痕跡(ji), 修整(zheng)隨意、粗糙. 此(ci)外, 1件(jian)原型為(wei)(wei)卵石(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)錘(chui)上出(chu)現(xian)一個(ge)集(ji)中分(fen)布細碎疤痕的(de)(de)凹陷區(qu)域(yu), 顯系砸擊(ji)生(sheng)產石(shi)(shi)片和(he)敲砸堅果(guo)所致(zhi); 幾件(jian)石(shi)(shi)片和(he)斷塊(kuai)(kuai)上有不(bu)規律(lv)的(de)(de)疤痕, 應是(shi)未經加(jia)工(gong)而(er)偶爾(er)被作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)工(gong)具使用(yong)的(de)(de)結果(guo)。
目前(qian)(qian)該(gai)遺址(zhi)(zhi)出(chu)土的(de)(de)(de)(de)人工石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品還很(hen)少(shao), 因而(er)(er)難(nan)窺古人類(lei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)技(ji)術(shu)(shu)全貌(mao). 從有(you)限(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)材料來看, 古人在(zai)(zai)此采(cai)用(yong)了兩種(zhong)技(ji)術(shu)(shu)剝離石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片、生(sheng)產石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi), 即錘擊(ji)法和(he)砸擊(ji)法. 前(qian)(qian)者(zhe)在(zai)(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)時代被廣泛采(cai)用(yong), 而(er)(er)后者(zhe)多(duo)出(chu)現(xian)(xian)在(zai)(zai)北(bei)方的(de)(de)(de)(de)遺址(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong). 該(gai)地(di)點(dian)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)加(jia)工多(duo)簡單、粗(cu)糙, 采(cai)用(yong)礫石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)作原(yuan)料者(zhe)占較(jiao)大的(de)(de)(de)(de)比例, 一(yi)些石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品粗(cu)大, 顯(xian)示(shi)南方礫石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品的(de)(de)(de)(de)鮮明(ming)(ming)特點(dian); 但(dan)加(jia)工成型的(de)(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)多(duo)為個體較(jiao)小、以(yi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片作毛坯的(de)(de)(de)(de)刮削器(qi)(qi), 加(jia)之(zhi)砸擊(ji)技(ji)術(shu)(shu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)采(cai)用(yong), 使(shi)該(gai)遺址(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)文化面(mian)貌(mao)又兼有(you)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)北(bei)方的(de)(de)(de)(de)舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)文化風格, 顯(xian)示(shi)一(yi)種(zhong)交融、過(guo)渡的(de)(de)(de)(de)屬性. 石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)錘、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片、斷塊的(de)(de)(de)(de)存在(zai)(zai)表(biao)明(ming)(ming)古人類(lei)在(zai)(zai)遺址(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)從事過(guo)制(zhi)作石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)活動, 而(er)(er)部分(fen)伴(ban)生(sheng)動物化石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)上出(chu)現(xian)(xian)鋒利的(de)(de)(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)刃口切(qie)割留下的(de)(de)(de)(de)條(tiao)痕, 說明(ming)(ming)古人曾在(zai)(zai)洞(dong)中(zhong)(zhong)使(shi)用(yong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi), 消(xiao)費過(guo)動物食物資源, 進(jin)而(er)(er)證明(ming)(ming)黃龍洞(dong)是一(yi)處史前(qian)(qian)人類(lei)生(sheng)產、生(sheng)活和(he)消(xiao)費的(de)(de)(de)(de)場所, 即所謂洞(dong)穴(xue)之(zhi)家。
宋人樂(le)史在(zai)(zai)其地理名著《太(tai)平寰宇記·山(shan)南西道(dao)·商(shang)州·上津縣(xian)載:“千人穴在(zai)(zai)縣(xian)東七十里,穴口高(gao)闊三(san)丈,深二百步,可容千人,中(zhong)有石暗凝若(ruo)乳,味甘治疾(ji),常(chang)有石燕、鳥群,飛出(chu)入其中(zhong)。”這是(shi)目前已知古籍中(zhong)最(zui)早記載黃龍洞的。明(ming)代《鄖(yun)臺(tai)志》載:“黃龍山(shan),山(shan)下有洞,禱雨(yu)多(duo)應”。
2004年5月, 在(zai)為配合高速公(gong)路建設(she)進行的(de)文物(wu)調查(cha)中(zhong)(zhong), 本文第一作者在(zai)湖北省(sheng)鄖西縣(xian)黃龍洞發(fa)現了哺乳動(dong)物(wu)化石(shi)(shi). 在(zai)6~8月和11~12月兩次試掘(jue)中(zhong)(zhong), 共有5枚人類牙齒化石(shi)(shi)、20余件(jian)石(shi)(shi)制品(pin)和大量動(dong)物(wu)化石(shi)(shi)被發(fa)掘(jue)出(chu)土. 初步動(dong)物(wu)群分析、石(shi)(shi)制品(pin)研究(jiu)和年代(dai)測定顯示這是一處更(geng)新世晚期古人類遺址, 對研究(jiu)中(zhong)(zhong)國及(ji)東亞地區更(geng)新世晚期人類演化和現代(dai)智(zhi)人起源具(ju)有非常重要的(de)價值。