舊石器時代初期,廟后山(shan)遺(yi)址已有人類(lei)活動。
1978年,廟后山遺址被當地村民開(kai)山打石時發現。
1978至1983年(nian),遼(liao)寧省本溪市考古部門(men)對廟后山(shan)遺址進(jin)行了4次發(fa)掘。
2012年7月,遼(liao)寧省本溪市考古部門再次啟(qi)動廟(miao)后山遺址(zhi)考古發(fa)掘工作。
廟后山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址坐落在本溪縣山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)城子(zi)鄉山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)城子(zi)村東,位于山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)南(nan)坡的一個(ge)天然洞(dong)穴(xue)中。廟后山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址一帶通(tong)稱遼東山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di),周圍山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)巒重疊,基(ji)巖由奧(ao)陶系馬家溝組灰巖組成,地(di)下(xia)水豐富(fu),太子(zi)河(he)(he)的支(zhi)流(liu)湯河(he)(he)從(cong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)流(liu)過。廟后山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)洞(dong)穴(xue)位處湯河(he)(he)的二級階地(di),海拔(ba)約250米。廟后山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址分上、下(xia)2個(ge)洞(dong),文(wen)化堆積(ji)共分8層(ceng)(ceng),厚13.5米,上洞(dong)的第7、8層(ceng)(ceng),時代(dai)為(wei)晚(wan)更新世。下(xia)洞(dong)的第4、5、6層(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)廟后山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)化層(ceng)(ceng),地(di)質(zhi)時代(dai)為(wei)中更新世晚(wan)期。
1978至1983年(nian),經過(guo)4次(ci)發掘,出(chu)土(tu)(tu)了人類(lei)牙齒化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)2顆,小孩股(gu)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人工打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)及少量骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),并發現(xian)有(you)(you)用火(huo)遺址。同時(shi),還出(chu)土(tu)(tu)了72中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺(bu)(bu)乳動物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi) [1] 。廟(miao)后山遺址發現(xian)一(yi)批第四紀哺(bu)(bu)乳動物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)、人類(lei)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)和文化(hua)(hua)(hua)遺物(wu)(wu),出(chu)土(tu)(tu)1枚(mei)(mei)老(lao)年(nian)人右側(ce)上(shang)(shang)犬齒、1枚(mei)(mei)成年(nian)人右側(ce)下(xia)(xia)臼齒和1件殘斷的(de)(de)幼年(nian)左側(ce)股(gu)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)。下(xia)(xia)洞文化(hua)(hua)(hua)堆積中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)遺物(wu)(wu),包(bao)括石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品(pin)(pin)和人工打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)的(de)(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)原(yuan)料以(yi)灰(hui)(hui)綠色石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)英砂巖為(wei)主,類(lei)型(xing)有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)核、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)和各(ge)種(zhong)(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi),打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)方法(fa)(fa)(fa)采用錘擊法(fa)(fa)(fa)和碰(peng)砧法(fa)(fa)(fa),偶爾用砸擊法(fa)(fa)(fa),廟(miao)后山人主要用碰(peng)砧法(fa)(fa)(fa)打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian),打(da)(da)(da)出(chu)的(de)(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)寬大(da)而厚重(zhong),主要器(qi)(qi)(qi)物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)刮削器(qi)(qi)(qi)、尖狀(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、砍砸器(qi)(qi)(qi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)球等(deng),加工簡單、粗糙,特征與周口店等(deng)第15地(di)點石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)相似。與這(zhe)批石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)共出(chu)的(de)(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)品(pin)(pin),有(you)(you)用大(da)型(xing)哺(bu)(bu)乳動物(wu)(wu)管狀(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)而成的(de)(de)刃類(lei)和尖狀(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),這(zhe)些骨(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)品(pin)(pin),打(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)方法(fa)(fa)(fa)簡單,用以(yi)補充石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)不足。另外,在(zai)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)文化(hua)(hua)(hua)層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),發現(xian)灰(hui)(hui)燼、炭屑和燒過(guo)的(de)(de)碎骨(gu)(gu)(gu),灰(hui)(hui)燼層(ceng)厚5-10厘米,由粉末狀(zhuang)黑褐色物(wu)(wu)質(zhi)組成,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)夾灰(hui)(hui)白色顆粒,是(shi)東(dong)北(bei)(bei)(bei)地(di)區(qu)繼金牛山人之后又一(yi)處舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)代早期人類(lei)用火(huo)遺跡。廟(miao)后山出(chu)土(tu)(tu)的(de)(de)動物(wu)(wu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)共76種(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺(bu)(bu)乳類(lei)有(you)(you)8個目72種(zhong)(zhong),較古(gu)老(lao)的(de)(de)動物(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)碩獼猴、安氏(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河(he)貍、變種(zhong)(zhong)狼、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)貉、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國鬣狗、似劍齒虎、師氏(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河(he)貍、三(san)門馬、梅氏(shi)犀、腫骨(gu)(gu)(gu)鹿等(deng),這(zhe)些動物(wu)(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),絕滅種(zhong)(zhong)占53%以(yi)上(shang)(shang),種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)基本是(shi)華(hua)北(bei)(bei)(bei)地(di)區(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更新(xin)世典型(xing)動物(wu)(wu),也包(bao)括部分(fen)華(hua)北(bei)(bei)(bei)早更新(xin)世和第三(san)紀殘余種(zhong)(zhong),地(di)質(zhi)時(shi)代為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更新(xin)世。廟(miao)后山下(xia)(xia)洞動物(wu)(wu)群(qun)以(yi)喜熱類(lei)為(wei)主,植被以(yi)松、櫟等(deng)針、闊葉樹為(wei)主。上(shang)(shang)洞(即7、8層(ceng))動物(wu)(wu)群(qun),代表華(hua)北(bei)(bei)(bei)——東(dong)北(bei)(bei)(bei)晚(wan)更新(xin)世種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei),絕滅種(zhong)(zhong)占38.4%,如披毛(mao)犀、猛犸象、原(yuan)始牛等(deng)種(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)。
從2012年(nian)7月開始,廟后(hou)山遺址考古發(fa)掘(jue)工(gong)作(zuo)再次啟動,發(fa)掘(jue)出1萬余件(jian)古生物化石、100余件(jian)土石器以及一(yi)定數量的刃類、尖類骨器等,在遺址現場東側發(fa)掘(jue)出火塘遺址。
廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)遺址的(de)發(fa)現,證(zheng)明了(le)原始社會(hui)舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)時代(dai)初期,地(di)(di)處關外(wai)的(de)遼東(dong)地(di)(di)區有(you)了(le)人(ren)(ren)類活動(dong)(dong)。對廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)研究表明,這支早期人(ren)(ren)類文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)和(he)(he)華(hua)北(bei)的(de)舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)有(you)密(mi)(mi)切(qie)聯(lian)系。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)遺址考古(gu)(gu)發(fa)掘出的(de)火塘遺址,表明廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)(ren)類已掌握了(le)用火烤肉和(he)(he)敲骨吸髓的(de)食用方法(fa),是人(ren)(ren)類踏入文(wen)明的(de)重要(yao)標志(zhi)。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)遺址對于探(tan)索(suo)中國(guo)(guo)遠古(gu)(gu)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)來(lai)龍去(qu)脈,具(ju)有(you)十分重要(yao)的(de)意義,為(wei)中國(guo)(guo)東(dong)北(bei)第四紀地(di)(di)質學、古(gu)(gu)生(sheng)物學的(de)研究提(ti)供了(le)重要(yao)資(zi)料。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)遺址出土(tu)了(le)大量(liang)石(shi)器(qi)、骨片和(he)(he)動(dong)(dong)物化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi),具(ju)有(you)很高的(de)文(wen)物價(jia)值(zhi)、考古(gu)(gu)價(jia)值(zhi)和(he)(he)科研價(jia)值(zhi)。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)遺址為(wei)研究中國(guo)(guo)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)(ren)類分布和(he)(he)發(fa)展以及古(gu)(gu)地(di)(di)理環境等(deng)提(ti)供了(le)寶貴資(zi)料,揭(jie)示出其(qi)與(yu)華(hua)北(bei)地(di)(di)區舊(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)密(mi)(mi)切(qie)聯(lian)系,對于考證(zheng)廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)(ren)類的(de)活動(dong)(dong)范圍、生(sheng)存能力、加工(gong)工(gong)具(ju)技術等(deng),也具(ju)有(you)非常重要(yao)的(de)意義。
2006年5月25日,廟后山遺(yi)址被中(zhong)華人民(min)共(gong)和國國務院公(gong)布為第六批全(quan)國重點文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護單位。
2016年,本溪(xi)滿(man)族自治縣文化廣播電(dian)影(ying)電(dian)視局開展了廟(miao)后山遺(yi)(yi)址址危(wei)巖(yan)體搶(qiang)險(xian)加固及洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口防(fang)護建設工程,對(dui)(dui)遺(yi)(yi)址A洞(dong)(dong)(dong)的洞(dong)(dong)(dong)體坍塌采取緊急搶(qiang)險(xian)加固措施,并對(dui)(dui)原有失效的洞(dong)(dong)(dong)門防(fang)護棚予以拆除,重建1處與山體相協調的拱(gong)形防(fang)護棚;同(tong)時,對(dui)(dui)其(qi)他2處洞(dong)(dong)(dong)室的危(wei)巖(yan)進(jin)行適當(dang)的加固后,對(dui)(dui)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口危(wei)險(xian)地帶設置拱(gong)形防(fang)護棚進(jin)行防(fang)護。
廟后山(shan)遺(yi)址填補了(le)中國東北地區早期人類(lei)歷史的(de)空(kong)白,被命名為(wei)“廟后山(shan)文(wen)化”,廟后山(shan)文(wen)化與(yu)北京山(shan)頂洞人、周(zhou)口店人等古(gu)人類(lei)所處年代為(wei)同一時代。