大(da)工山(shan)銅礦(kuang)遺址面積約(yue)400平方公里，從公元前11世紀至(zhi)公元1279年(nian)，南(nan)(nan)陵(ling)大(da)工山(shan)銅礦(kuang)從西周到南(nan)(nan)宋，延續時間長達兩千余(yu)年(nian)，其采冶、煉銅十萬余(yu)噸，可供打造百萬件的(de)青(qing)銅器。銅在戰國(guo)(guo)時期(qi)是(shi)戰略意義(yi)的(de)物資(zi)，南(nan)(nan)陵(ling)銅質優(you)量(liang)大(da)。據史料(liao)記載，楚國(guo)(guo)在消(xiao)滅越國(guo)(guo)之后，旋即(ji)在皖南(nan)(nan)設置“陵(ling)陽郡”，所產銅材(cai)被譽為“陵(ling)陽之金”。
1984年(nian)開(kai)始，南陵縣文管部門(men)在第(di)二(er)次全國(guo)文物(wu)普查(cha)中，發(fa)現(xian)在大工山(shan)一帶的(de)地(di)表存有(you)大量陶(tao)片，甚至連農民的(de)菜(cai)園地(di)里都有(you)，還發(fa)現(xian)多處(chu)(chu)疑為(wei)人工開(kai)鑿的(de)坑(keng)道以及多處(chu)(chu)古(gu)人生(sheng)活及燒烤的(de)痕跡。南陵縣文管所(suo)將這(zhe)一發(fa)現(xian)逐(zhu)級上報，引(yin)起(qi)了(le)蕪湖市、安(an)徽省文物(wu)部門(men)的(de)高度(du)重視。1986年(nian)，安(an)徽省文物(wu)考古(gu)研(yan)究所(suo)的(de)專(zhuan)家(jia)們根據南陵縣文物(wu)普查(cha)情況對南陵境內(nei)這(zhe)些發(fa)現(xian)進行了(le)專(zhuan)題(ti)調查(cha)和復查(cha)，終確定(ding)了(le)它就(jiu)是湮沒在地(di)下、沉睡了(le)千(qian)年(nian)的(de)古(gu)銅冶遺址。
1987年開始，安徽(hui)省銅陵市文物(wu)部門先后多次對鳳凰(huang)山銅礦遺(yi)址進行(xing)搶救性清理發(fa)掘(jue)，清理出多處古代采礦井巷和(he)一(yi)批(pi)采掘(jue)生產工具，并在(zai)附近相繼(ji)發(fa)現(xian)了不少采礦和(he)冶煉(lian)遺(yi)址。
大工山(shan)(shan)銅礦(kuang)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)包括塌(ta)里牧銅礦(kuang)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)、江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)木(mu)沖冶(ye)煉(lian)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)、劉家井冶(ye)煉(lian)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)、破頭(tou)山(shan)(shan)采礦(kuang)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)等。塌(ta)里牧遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)位于大工山(shan)(shan)西北部，距(ju)縣城18公里，與另一處古銅礦(kuang)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)木(mu)沖遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)隔山(shan)(shan)相守(shou)。塌(ta)里牧遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)西面毗鄰銅陵市，占地面積22萬平方米。是一處集采礦(kuang)、冶(ye)煉(lian)為一體的(de)自漢至宋代時期的(de)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)。發源于大工山(shan)(shan)的(de)江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)木(mu)沖河流經遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)東(dong)側，匯入繁昌黃滸(hu)河，由(you)荻港入長江(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)。
1991年10月至12月，安徽省文(wen)物考(kao)古(gu)研究所和南陵(ling)縣文(wen)物管理所組成的(de)(de)(de)考(kao)古(gu)工(gong)(gong)作隊，對南陵(ling)縣大工(gong)(gong)山區西(xi)邊沖古(gu)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦遺址進(jin)行(xing)發(fa)掘。發(fa)掘揭露面積(ji)400平方米，發(fa)現春秋時期煉(lian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)爐(lu)(lu)(lu)5座，其中(zhong)1號爐(lu)(lu)(lu)的(de)(de)(de)爐(lu)(lu)(lu)基結(jie)構清(qing)(qing)楚，爐(lu)(lu)(lu)缸、風(feng)溝、渣(zha)坑(keng)(keng)保存完好。爐(lu)(lu)(lu)西(xi)側(ce)有一(yi)(yi)座用石(shi)塊(kuai)(kuai)壘筑的(de)(de)(de)房基，長3米，寬4米，是當(dang)年用以休(xiu)息和堆放(fang)冶(ye)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)器材的(de)(de)(de)工(gong)(gong)棚，爐(lu)(lu)(lu)前(qian)(qian)有一(yi)(yi)片(pian)開闊地，是爐(lu)(lu)(lu)前(qian)(qian)工(gong)(gong)的(de)(de)(de)操作臺，操作臺下是一(yi)(yi)個(ge)深3米的(de)(de)(de)大渣(zha)坑(keng)(keng)，用以存放(fang)煉(lian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)(de)棄(qi)渣(zha)。在操作臺的(de)(de)(de)東(dong)側(ce)，發(fa)現了(le)(le)一(yi)(yi)塊(kuai)(kuai)用于鑄(zhu)造青銅(tong)(tong)(tong)工(gong)(gong)具(ju)的(de)(de)(de)石(shi)范,其型腔清(qing)(qing)晰光滑、澆口明顯。在2號爐(lu)(lu)(lu)東(dong)側(ce)的(de)(de)(de)灰坑(keng)(keng)里，發(fa)現了(le)(le)大量(liang)陶(tao)(tao)器殘(can)片(pian)，可(ke)辨認的(de)(de)(de)器形(xing)有夾砂陶(tao)(tao)盆形(xing)鼎、高足鬲、印紋(wen)陶(tao)(tao)雙耳罐(guan)、泥質(zhi)陶(tao)(tao)高柄豆、原始青瓷(ci)碗等春秋時期的(de)(de)(de)生(sheng)活(huo)用具(ju)。發(fa)掘過(guo)程(cheng)中(zhong)還發(fa)現了(le)(le)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦石(shi)、小(xiao)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)塊(kuai)(kuai)、小(xiao)鉛塊(kuai)(kuai)、小(xiao)件(jian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)器和石(shi)球、礪石(shi)、石(shi)臼、塔形(xing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)渣(zha)、木(mu)炭等冶(ye)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)生(sheng)產(chan)的(de)(de)(de)原料、燃料和工(gong)(gong)具(ju)。
銅(tong)陵市的木魚山(shan)、金牛洞(dong)，南(nan)陵縣的江木沖、塌(ta)里牧四處(chu)，發現一批(pi)西周、春(chun)秋煉(lian)鋼豎爐，唐(tang)宋礦(kuang)石焙燒(shao)窯(yao)、圓(yuan)形煉(lian)銅(tong)地(di)爐，漢唐(tang)地(di)下(xia)采礦(kuang)場等(deng)重(zhong)要遺跡，出土(tu)銅(tong)錠、銅(tong)器、鐵器、陶器等(deng)物。
大工山——鳳凰山銅(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)遺址的發現，具(ju)有極其重要(yao)(yao)的學術價值(zhi)。它不僅(jin)為(wei)尋找中(zhong)國的“丹陽銅(tong)(tong)”產地(di)提供了重要(yao)(yao)線(xian)索和物證，而且為(wei)探(tan)索中(zhong)國長(chang)江中(zhong)下游(you)地(di)區青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)文明的起源與發展，研究中(zhong)國古代采礦(kuang)、冶金技術的歷(li)史進(jin)步(bu)，以及當時的社(she)會(hui)經濟史等方面，提供了豐富(fu)的資料。
銅(tong)礦的(de)大(da)規模開(kai)發(fa)，是皖南地(di)區青銅(tong)文化得以(yi)發(fa)展(zhan)的(de)一個重(zhong)要的(de)動力。20世紀(ji)80年代以(yi)來，在(zai)以(yi)大(da)工山、鳳(feng)凰山為(wei)中心的(de)南陵(ling)、銅(tong)陵(ling)、繁昌等(deng)地(di)先(xian)后發(fa)現周(zhou)(zhou)代采銅(tong)礦井遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)和銅(tong)冶煉遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)數(shu)十(shi)處，時(shi)代早可達西周(zhou)(zhou)。這(zhe)一區域內還分(fen)布著眾多西周(zhou)(zhou)至(zhi)春秋時(shi)期(qi)的(de)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)，同時(shi)這(zhe)里也(ye)是土墩(dun)墓分(fen)布密集(ji)的(de)區域，如此(ci)繁盛景象的(de)出現，說(shuo)明皖南地(di)區在(zai)周(zhou)(zhou)代江(jiang)南文化的(de)發(fa)展(zhan)過程(cheng)中，應占(zhan)有一個相當重(zhong)要的(de)地(di)位。
1996年(nian)11月，南(nan)陵縣大工山銅礦遺址和毗鄰的銅陵鳳凰山銅礦遺址一起被(bei)國務院批準為第四(si)批全國文物保護單(dan)位(wei)。
2012年，為加強遺(yi)址(zhi)保護(hu)(hu)，銅陵市文(wen)(wen)物局委托安徽(hui)省文(wen)(wen)物保護(hu)(hu)中心編制(zhi)(zhi)了鳳凰山(shan)(shan)銅礦遺(yi)址(zhi)總體保護(hu)(hu)規劃(hua)(hua)工(gong)作計劃(hua)(hua)，并正(zheng)式向(xiang)國家(jia)文(wen)(wen)物局申請保護(hu)(hu)規劃(hua)(hua)編制(zhi)(zhi)立項。2013年10月，國家(jia)文(wen)(wen)物局正(zheng)式批復同意鳳凰山(shan)(shan)銅礦遺(yi)址(zhi)保護(hu)(hu)規劃(hua)(hua)編制(zhi)(zhi)立項。同時，銅陵市委托專業規劃(hua)(hua)編制(zhi)(zhi)單位，聯合安徽(hui)省考(kao)古研究(jiu)所，做好鳳凰山(shan)(shan)銅礦遺(yi)址(zhi)保護(hu)(hu)規劃(hua)(hua)的(de)編制(zhi)(zhi)工(gong)作。
2018年，銅(tong)(tong)陵(ling)市(shi)啟動(dong)第三(san)批市(shi)級文物保護(hu)(hu)單位保護(hu)(hu)標志碑、界樁制(zhi)作(zuo)以及(ji)環境整治(zhi)項目(mu)招標工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)。對文物保護(hu)(hu)單位、歷史(shi)建筑與(yu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)業遺產(chan)規(gui)劃編制(zhi)項目(mu)。推進國(guo)保單位大工(gong)(gong)(gong)山(shan)—鳳(feng)凰(huang)山(shan)銅(tong)(tong)礦遺址和浮山(shan)摩崖石(shi)刻的保護(hu)(hu)規(gui)劃編制(zhi)；積極開展(zhan)《銅(tong)(tong)陵(ling)市(shi)歷史(shi)建筑與(yu)工(gong)(gong)(gong)業遺產(chan)保護(hu)(hu)規(gui)劃》編制(zhi)工(gong)(gong)(gong)作(zuo)。
據史書(shu)記載，漢(han)代產銅(tong)(tong)(tong)地不少，相對于全(quan)國各地設(she)置的(de)(de)37處(chu)鹽官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)、48處(chu)鐵官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)而言，當時政權只在(zai)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)設(she)了一(yi)(yi)處(chu)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)，丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)在(zai)漢(han)代青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)文明、青(qing)(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)工業上的(de)(de)地位由此可(ke)見。丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)有銅(tong)(tong)(tong)山，“銅(tong)(tong)(tong)山在(zai)繁昌區(qu)(qu)(qu)東(dong)南(nan)(nan)五十里，出(chu)(chu)好銅(tong)(tong)(tong)，古所謂(wei)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)”。據《史記》、《漢(han)書(shu)》記載西(xi)漢(han)政權曾設(she)的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)于今(jin)天的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)陵(ling)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)山下，鳳凰山地區(qu)(qu)(qu)發現的(de)(de)西(xi)漢(han)時期的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦采冶(ye)遺址，很可(ke)能就是(shi)(shi)屬(shu)于當時銅(tong)(tong)(tong)官(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)管(guan)轄(xia)下的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)個地區(qu)(qu)(qu)性采冶(ye)場(chang)所。還有一(yi)(yi)些刻有“銅(tong)(tong)(tong)出(chu)(chu)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)”的(de)(de)銘文鏡。“漢(han)有善銅(tong)(tong)(tong)出(chu)(chu)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)”，當時好的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)在(zai)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)。丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)曾是(shi)(shi)古地區(qu)(qu)(qu)名，又稱(cheng)“丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)郡”，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)陵(ling)地區(qu)(qu)(qu)西(xi)漢(han)隸屬(shu)于“丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)郡”，以(yi)今(jin)天的(de)(de)行(xing)政區(qu)(qu)(qu)劃看(kan)(kan)，其轄(xia)區(qu)(qu)(qu)包括(kuo)安徽池州以(yi)東(dong)，江(jiang)(jiang)蘇(su)句(ju)容(rong)以(yi)西(xi)，北至長(chang)江(jiang)(jiang)南(nan)(nan)岸(an)，南(nan)(nan)抵(di)浙江(jiang)(jiang)安吉一(yi)(yi)帶，大致包括(kuo)了今(jin)天的(de)(de)宣(xuan)城地區(qu)(qu)(qu)。皖(wan)南(nan)(nan)古代銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦生產的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)原料大致有三個去(qu)向：銅(tong)(tong)(tong)原料外運、就地加工、在(zai)礦區(qu)(qu)(qu)附近鑄(zhu)錢。從(cong)《六安出(chu)(chu)土銅(tong)(tong)(tong)鏡》、《皖(wan)江(jiang)(jiang)漢(han)魏銅(tong)(tong)(tong)鏡選(xuan)粹》等公開(kai)發表的(de)(de)資料看(kan)(kan)，皖(wan)南(nan)(nan)有可(ke)能是(shi)(shi)戰國漢(han)魏時期銅(tong)(tong)(tong)鏡的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)個鑄(zhu)造中心。
我心明亮 
