舊石器時(shi)代初(chu)期,廟后山遺址已有人類活動。
1978年,廟后山遺(yi)址被當地村民開山打石(shi)時發(fa)現(xian)。
1978至1983年,遼(liao)寧省本溪市考古(gu)部門對(dui)廟后山遺址進行了4次發掘(jue)。
2012年7月,遼寧省本溪市(shi)考古部門再次啟動廟(miao)后山遺址考古發掘工作。
廟(miao)后(hou)山遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)坐落在本溪縣山城子鄉山城子村東,位于(yu)山南坡的(de)一個天(tian)然洞(dong)(dong)穴(xue)中。廟(miao)后(hou)山遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)一帶通稱遼東山地(di),周圍山巒重(zhong)疊(die),基巖由(you)奧(ao)陶(tao)系馬(ma)家溝組(zu)灰巖組(zu)成,地(di)下水豐富,太子河(he)的(de)支流湯河(he)從山下流過。廟(miao)后(hou)山洞(dong)(dong)穴(xue)位處湯河(he)的(de)二級階地(di),海拔約250米。廟(miao)后(hou)山遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)分上、下2個洞(dong)(dong),文化堆積共分8層,厚(hou)13.5米,上洞(dong)(dong)的(de)第7、8層,時代為晚更新世(shi)。下洞(dong)(dong)的(de)第4、5、6層為廟(miao)后(hou)山文化層,地(di)質(zhi)時代為中更新世(shi)晚期(qi)。
1978至1983年(nian)(nian),經過(guo)4次發(fa)掘(jue),出(chu)(chu)土(tu)(tu)了(le)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)牙齒(chi)(chi)(chi)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)2顆,小孩股骨(gu)(gu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)工打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)及少量骨(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),并(bing)發(fa)現(xian)有(you)用(yong)火遺址。同時(shi),還出(chu)(chu)土(tu)(tu)了(le)72中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳(ru)(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi) [1] 。廟(miao)后(hou)山遺址發(fa)現(xian)一批第四紀哺乳(ru)(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)、人(ren)(ren)類(lei)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)和文化(hua)遺物(wu),出(chu)(chu)土(tu)(tu)1枚(mei)老年(nian)(nian)人(ren)(ren)右(you)側上(shang)犬齒(chi)(chi)(chi)、1枚(mei)成(cheng)(cheng)年(nian)(nian)人(ren)(ren)右(you)側下(xia)臼齒(chi)(chi)(chi)和1件(jian)殘斷的幼年(nian)(nian)左(zuo)側股骨(gu)(gu)。下(xia)洞文化(hua)堆(dui)積中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的遺物(wu),包括石(shi)(shi)(shi)制(zhi)(zhi)品和人(ren)(ren)工打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)的骨(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)原料以灰(hui)綠色(se)石(shi)(shi)(shi)英砂巖為(wei)主(zhu),類(lei)型有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)核、石(shi)(shi)(shi)片和各種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)方法采用(yong)錘擊法和碰砧法,偶爾用(yong)砸(za)擊法,廟(miao)后(hou)山人(ren)(ren)主(zhu)要(yao)用(yong)碰砧法打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)片,打(da)(da)出(chu)(chu)的石(shi)(shi)(shi)片寬大而(er)厚重(zhong),主(zhu)要(yao)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)物(wu)有(you)刮削(xue)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、尖狀(zhuang)(zhuang)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、砍砸(za)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)球等,加工簡單、粗糙,特征與(yu)周口(kou)店等第15地(di)(di)點石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)相似。與(yu)這(zhe)批石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)共出(chu)(chu)的骨(gu)(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)品,有(you)用(yong)大型哺乳(ru)(ru)(ru)動(dong)(dong)物(wu)管狀(zhuang)(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)而(er)成(cheng)(cheng)的刃類(lei)和尖狀(zhuang)(zhuang)骨(gu)(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),這(zhe)些骨(gu)(gu)制(zhi)(zhi)品,打(da)(da)制(zhi)(zhi)方法簡單,用(yong)以補充石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)的不足(zu)。另(ling)外,在舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)文化(hua)層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),發(fa)現(xian)灰(hui)燼、炭屑和燒過(guo)的碎(sui)骨(gu)(gu),灰(hui)燼層(ceng)厚5-10厘米,由(you)粉末狀(zhuang)(zhuang)黑褐色(se)物(wu)質組成(cheng)(cheng),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)夾灰(hui)白色(se)顆粒,是東北地(di)(di)區繼金牛(niu)(niu)山人(ren)(ren)之后(hou)又一處(chu)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)代早(zao)期人(ren)(ren)類(lei)用(yong)火遺跡。廟(miao)后(hou)山出(chu)(chu)土(tu)(tu)的動(dong)(dong)物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)共76種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),其中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)哺乳(ru)(ru)(ru)類(lei)有(you)8個目72種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),較(jiao)古老的動(dong)(dong)物(wu)有(you)碩獼(mi)猴、安(an)氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河(he)貍、變種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)狼、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)貉、中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國鬣(lie)狗(gou)、似劍齒(chi)(chi)(chi)虎、師氏中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)華(hua)河(he)貍、三(san)門馬(ma)、梅氏犀、腫(zhong)骨(gu)(gu)鹿等,這(zhe)些動(dong)(dong)物(wu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),絕(jue)(jue)滅種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)占53%以上(shang),種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)基本是華(hua)北地(di)(di)區中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更新(xin)世(shi)典型動(dong)(dong)物(wu),也包括部分(fen)華(hua)北早(zao)更新(xin)世(shi)和第三(san)紀殘余種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),地(di)(di)質時(shi)代為(wei)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)更新(xin)世(shi)。廟(miao)后(hou)山下(xia)洞動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群以喜熱類(lei)為(wei)主(zhu),植被以松、櫟等針(zhen)、闊葉(xie)樹為(wei)主(zhu)。上(shang)洞(即7、8層(ceng))動(dong)(dong)物(wu)群,代表(biao)華(hua)北——東北晚更新(xin)世(shi)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei),絕(jue)(jue)滅種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)占38.4%,如披毛犀、猛(meng)犸象、原始牛(niu)(niu)等種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)類(lei)。
從(cong)2012年7月(yue)開(kai)始,廟后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)考古發(fa)掘(jue)工作(zuo)再(zai)次啟動,發(fa)掘(jue)出1萬余件古生物化(hua)石(shi)、100余件土石(shi)器以及(ji)一(yi)定數量的刃類、尖類骨器等,在遺(yi)址(zhi)現場東側發(fa)掘(jue)出火塘遺(yi)址(zhi)。
廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)的(de)(de)發(fa)現,證(zheng)明(ming)(ming)了(le)(le)原始社會舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)時代初期(qi),地處關外的(de)(de)遼東地區(qu)有了(le)(le)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類活動。對廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)研(yan)(yan)究表(biao)明(ming)(ming),這支早期(qi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類文(wen)(wen)化(hua)和華(hua)北(bei)的(de)(de)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)有密(mi)切(qie)聯系。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)考(kao)古(gu)發(fa)掘出(chu)的(de)(de)火(huo)塘遺(yi)址(zhi),表(biao)明(ming)(ming)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)古(gu)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類已掌握了(le)(le)用(yong)火(huo)烤肉和敲骨吸髓的(de)(de)食用(yong)方法,是人(ren)(ren)(ren)類踏入文(wen)(wen)明(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)重(zhong)要標志(zhi)。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)對于探索中國遠古(gu)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)來(lai)龍去脈,具(ju)(ju)有十分重(zhong)要的(de)(de)意義,為中國東北(bei)第四(si)紀地質學、古(gu)生(sheng)物(wu)學的(de)(de)研(yan)(yan)究提供(gong)了(le)(le)重(zhong)要資(zi)料。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)出(chu)土了(le)(le)大量石(shi)(shi)器(qi)、骨片和動物(wu)化(hua)石(shi)(shi),具(ju)(ju)有很高的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)物(wu)價(jia)值、考(kao)古(gu)價(jia)值和科研(yan)(yan)價(jia)值。廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)為研(yan)(yan)究中國古(gu)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類分布和發(fa)展以(yi)及古(gu)地理環境等(deng)提供(gong)了(le)(le)寶貴(gui)資(zi)料,揭示(shi)出(chu)其與華(hua)北(bei)地區(qu)舊(jiu)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)密(mi)切(qie)聯系,對于考(kao)證(zheng)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)后山(shan)古(gu)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類的(de)(de)活動范圍、生(sheng)存能力、加工工具(ju)(ju)技術等(deng),也(ye)具(ju)(ju)有非(fei)常重(zhong)要的(de)(de)意義。
2006年5月25日,廟后山遺址被中華人民共(gong)和國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)務(wu)院公布為第(di)六批全國(guo)(guo)重點文物保護(hu)單(dan)位。
2016年,本溪滿族自(zi)治縣文化廣播電影(ying)電視局開(kai)展了廟后山遺(yi)(yi)址址危(wei)巖體(ti)搶(qiang)險加(jia)固(gu)及洞口(kou)防(fang)護(hu)(hu)建(jian)設(she)工程(cheng),對遺(yi)(yi)址A洞的(de)洞體(ti)坍(tan)塌采取緊急搶(qiang)險加(jia)固(gu)措施,并對原(yuan)有失效的(de)洞門防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng)予(yu)以拆除,重建(jian)1處(chu)與山體(ti)相協(xie)調的(de)拱(gong)形防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng);同時,對其他2處(chu)洞室的(de)危(wei)巖進行適當的(de)加(jia)固(gu)后,對洞口(kou)危(wei)險地帶設(she)置(zhi)拱(gong)形防(fang)護(hu)(hu)棚(peng)進行防(fang)護(hu)(hu)。
廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)遺址填補(bu)了中國東北地區(qu)早(zao)期人類歷史(shi)的空(kong)白(bai),被命名為“廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文化(hua)”,廟后(hou)(hou)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)文化(hua)與北京山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)頂洞人、周口店人等古人類所處年代為同一時(shi)代。