舊石器(qi)時(shi)代初期(qi),廟后山遺址已有人類活動。
1978年,廟后(hou)山(shan)遺址被(bei)當(dang)地村民開(kai)山(shan)打石時發現(xian)。
1978至1983年,遼寧省本溪市考(kao)古部(bu)門對廟后山遺址(zhi)進行了4次發(fa)掘。
2012年7月,遼寧省(sheng)本(ben)溪市考古部門再(zai)次啟(qi)動廟后山遺址(zhi)考古發(fa)掘工作。
廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址坐落(luo)在本溪縣山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子(zi)鄉山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)子(zi)村東,位于(yu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)南坡的一個天然洞穴中(zhong)。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址一帶(dai)通(tong)稱遼東山(shan)(shan)(shan)地(di),周(zhou)圍山(shan)(shan)(shan)巒重疊,基(ji)巖(yan)由奧陶系馬家溝組灰巖(yan)組成,地(di)下(xia)水豐富,太子(zi)河(he)(he)的支流(liu)湯河(he)(he)從山(shan)(shan)(shan)下(xia)流(liu)過。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)洞穴位處湯河(he)(he)的二級階地(di),海拔約(yue)250米(mi)。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址分上、下(xia)2個洞,文(wen)化(hua)堆(dui)積共分8層(ceng),厚(hou)13.5米(mi),上洞的第7、8層(ceng),時(shi)代為晚更(geng)新世。下(xia)洞的第4、5、6層(ceng)為廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)化(hua)層(ceng),地(di)質時(shi)代為中(zhong)更(geng)新世晚期。
1978至1983年,經過(guo)4次發掘,出(chu)(chu)土(tu)了人類(lei)(lei)牙齒(chi)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)2顆(ke),小孩(hai)股骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)、人工打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)及少量骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),并發現有用(yong)(yong)(yong)火遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)。同(tong)時(shi)(shi),還出(chu)(chu)土(tu)了72中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi) [1] 。廟后山(shan)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)發現一(yi)批(pi)(pi)第四(si)紀哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)、人類(lei)(lei)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)和(he)文化(hua)(hua)遺(yi)(yi)物(wu),出(chu)(chu)土(tu)1枚老(lao)年人右(you)側上犬齒(chi)、1枚成年人右(you)側下(xia)臼齒(chi)和(he)1件(jian)殘斷(duan)的(de)幼年左側股骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)。下(xia)洞文化(hua)(hua)堆積中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)遺(yi)(yi)物(wu),包括石(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)品和(he)人工打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)的(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)原(yuan)料以灰(hui)(hui)綠色(se)石(shi)(shi)(shi)英砂(sha)巖為主,類(lei)(lei)型(xing)有石(shi)(shi)(shi)核(he)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)和(he)各種(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi),打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)方(fang)法采(cai)用(yong)(yong)(yong)錘擊法和(he)碰砧法,偶爾(er)用(yong)(yong)(yong)砸擊法,廟后山(shan)人主要用(yong)(yong)(yong)碰砧法打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian),打(da)(da)(da)(da)出(chu)(chu)的(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)寬大而(er)厚(hou)重,主要器(qi)(qi)(qi)物(wu)有刮削器(qi)(qi)(qi)、尖狀(zhuang)(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、砍砸器(qi)(qi)(qi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)球等(deng),加工簡單、粗糙,特征與周(zhou)口店等(deng)第15地(di)點石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)相似。與這(zhe)批(pi)(pi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)共(gong)出(chu)(chu)的(de)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)品,有用(yong)(yong)(yong)大型(xing)哺乳動(dong)(dong)物(wu)管狀(zhuang)(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)而(er)成的(de)刃類(lei)(lei)和(he)尖狀(zhuang)(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi),這(zhe)些骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)制(zhi)品,打(da)(da)(da)(da)制(zhi)方(fang)法簡單,用(yong)(yong)(yong)以補充石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)不足。另外,在舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)文化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),發現灰(hui)(hui)燼、炭屑和(he)燒(shao)過(guo)的(de)碎(sui)骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu),灰(hui)(hui)燼層(ceng)(ceng)厚(hou)5-10厘米,由(you)粉末(mo)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)黑(hei)褐色(se)物(wu)質組成,中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)夾灰(hui)(hui)白色(se)顆(ke)粒,是東北(bei)地(di)區(qu)繼金牛山(shan)人之(zhi)后又一(yi)處舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)早(zao)期人類(lei)(lei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)火遺(yi)(yi)跡(ji)。廟后山(shan)出(chu)(chu)土(tu)的(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)共(gong)76種(zhong),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳類(lei)(lei)有8個目72種(zhong),較(jiao)古(gu)老(lao)的(de)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有碩獼猴、安氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河貍、變種(zhong)狼、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)貉(he)、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)鬣狗、似劍(jian)齒(chi)虎、師氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河貍、三門(men)馬、梅氏犀、腫骨(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)鹿等(deng),這(zhe)些動(dong)(dong)物(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),絕滅種(zhong)占53%以上,種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)基本是華(hua)北(bei)地(di)區(qu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)典(dian)型(xing)動(dong)(dong)物(wu),也包括部分華(hua)北(bei)早(zao)更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)和(he)第三紀殘余種(zhong),地(di)質時(shi)(shi)代(dai)為中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)。廟后山(shan)下(xia)洞動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群(qun)以喜熱類(lei)(lei)為主,植被以松(song)、櫟等(deng)針(zhen)、闊葉樹為主。上洞(即(ji)7、8層(ceng)(ceng))動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群(qun),代(dai)表華(hua)北(bei)——東北(bei)晚更(geng)(geng)新世(shi)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei),絕滅種(zhong)占38.4%,如披(pi)毛犀、猛(meng)犸(ma)象、原(yuan)始牛等(deng)種(zhong)類(lei)(lei)。
從2012年7月開始,廟后(hou)山遺(yi)址考古(gu)(gu)發(fa)掘工作再次啟(qi)動,發(fa)掘出(chu)1萬余件(jian)古(gu)(gu)生(sheng)物化石、100余件(jian)土石器以及一定數量的刃類(lei)、尖類(lei)骨器等,在(zai)遺(yi)址現場東側發(fa)掘出(chu)火塘遺(yi)址。
廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)發(fa)現,證明(ming)了原始社會舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)時代初期,地處關外的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)遼東地區有(you)了人(ren)類(lei)(lei)活動(dong)(dong)。對(dui)廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)研究(jiu)表明(ming),這支早期人(ren)類(lei)(lei)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)和華北(bei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)有(you)密切聯(lian)系。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)考古(gu)(gu)發(fa)掘(jue)出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)火塘(tang)遺址(zhi),表明(ming)廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)類(lei)(lei)已(yi)掌握了用(yong)火烤肉和敲骨(gu)吸(xi)髓的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)食(shi)用(yong)方法,是人(ren)類(lei)(lei)踏入文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)重要(yao)(yao)標(biao)志。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)對(dui)于(yu)(yu)探(tan)索中(zhong)國(guo)遠古(gu)(gu)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)來龍去脈,具(ju)有(you)十分重要(yao)(yao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)意(yi)義(yi),為中(zhong)國(guo)東北(bei)第四紀地質學、古(gu)(gu)生物學的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)研究(jiu)提(ti)供了重要(yao)(yao)資(zi)料。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)出土了大量石(shi)器(qi)、骨(gu)片和動(dong)(dong)物化(hua)(hua)(hua)石(shi),具(ju)有(you)很高的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物價(jia)值(zhi)、考古(gu)(gu)價(jia)值(zhi)和科研價(jia)值(zhi)。廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)為研究(jiu)中(zhong)國(guo)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)類(lei)(lei)分布和發(fa)展以及古(gu)(gu)地理環境等提(ti)供了寶(bao)貴(gui)資(zi)料,揭示出其與(yu)華北(bei)地區舊(jiu)(jiu)石(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)密切聯(lian)系,對(dui)于(yu)(yu)考證廟(miao)后山(shan)(shan)(shan)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)類(lei)(lei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)活動(dong)(dong)范(fan)圍、生存能(neng)力、加工工具(ju)技(ji)術等,也(ye)具(ju)有(you)非常重要(yao)(yao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)意(yi)義(yi)。
2006年5月25日,廟后山(shan)遺址被中華人民共(gong)和國國務院公布為第六批全國重點(dian)文物保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位(wei)。
2016年(nian),本溪滿族自治縣文化廣播電(dian)影電(dian)視局開展(zhan)了廟(miao)后(hou)山遺址址危(wei)巖體搶(qiang)險加固及(ji)洞口(kou)防(fang)護(hu)(hu)建設工程(cheng),對遺址A洞的(de)(de)洞體坍塌采(cai)取(qu)緊急搶(qiang)險加固措施(shi),并對原有失效的(de)(de)洞門防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng)予以拆(chai)除,重建1處(chu)與山體相協調(diao)的(de)(de)拱(gong)形(xing)(xing)防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng);同時,對其他2處(chu)洞室的(de)(de)危(wei)巖進(jin)行適(shi)當的(de)(de)加固后(hou),對洞口(kou)危(wei)險地帶設置拱(gong)形(xing)(xing)防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng)進(jin)行防(fang)護(hu)(hu)。
廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)遺址(zhi)填補了(le)中國(guo)東北地區早(zao)期人類(lei)(lei)歷史(shi)的空白,被(bei)命名為(wei)“廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)”,廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后(hou)山(shan)(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)與北京山(shan)(shan)頂洞(dong)人、周口(kou)店人等古人類(lei)(lei)所(suo)處年代為(wei)同一時代。