新石器時代,阿(a)善遺(yi)址境(jing)域(yu)已(yi)有有人(ren)類活(huo)動。
1979年,阿善遺址由包(bao)頭市文物管理所發現(xian)。
1980年,內蒙(meng)古(gu)(gu)社會科學(xue)院蒙(meng)古(gu)(gu)史研究所(suo)、包頭市文物管(guan)理所(suo)共(gong)同組成發掘組,對阿善遺址(zhi)進行(xing)了(le)試掘。
1981年6月(yue)至9月(yue),內蒙(meng)古(gu)社會科(ke)學院(yuan)蒙(meng)古(gu)史(shi)研究(jiu)所、包頭市文物管理(li)所共同組成的(de)發掘組對(dui)阿善(shan)遺址進行了正式發掘,連同試(shi)掘共發掘面積(ji)1170平(ping)方米。
阿善遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)在(zai)包(bao)頭市區(qu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)巧公里的(de)阿善溝(gou)門(men)東(dong)(dong)(dong),北(bei)依(yi)大青(qing)山,南瀕黃(huang)河(he),京包(bao)鐵路與呼包(bao)公路均經遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)與黃(huang)河(he)之間(jian)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西穿過。遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)在(zai)的(de)兩(liang)個臺地(di)(di)(di),東(dong)(dong)(dong)臺地(di)(di)(di)俗(su)(su)名東(dong)(dong)(dong)腦包(bao)梁;西臺地(di)(di)(di)俗(su)(su)名西腦包(bao)梁。屹膝蓋溝(gou)穿行于(yu)(yu)兩(liang)臺地(di)(di)(di)之間(jian),由北(bei)向南匯人黃(huang)河(he)。兩(liang)臺地(di)(di)(di)分別高于(yu)(yu)黃(huang)河(he)水面100米與81米,平面均呈南北(bei)長東(dong)(dong)(dong)西窄的(de)不規則(ze)地(di)(di)(di)形,沿遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)居住區(qu)邊緣(yuan)留有石砌圍(wei)墻遺(yi)(yi)跡,殘高于(yu)(yu)地(di)(di)(di)表0.1-0.3米。遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)范圍(wei)內大部已辟(pi)為(wei)耕(geng)地(di)(di)(di),邊緣(yuan)地(di)(di)(di)帶(dai)未(wei)經耕(geng)擾的(de)地(di)(di)(di)表,裸(luo)露出(chu)許多地(di)(di)(di)面石筑(zhu)房子的(de)墻基。遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)面積約5萬多平方米。
阿(a)善(shan)遺(yi)址屬新(xin)石(shi)器時(shi)代,還包含(han)有(you)(you)極少(shao)青(qing)銅時(shi)代及其以后的(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)遺(yi)存。兩區(qu)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)厚(hou)度均約1米(mi)左(zuo)右。第(di)1層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),耕(geng)土(tu)(tu)(tu),厚(hou)0.1-0.15米(mi),夾(jia)雜有(you)(you)地(di)表房子(zi)墻基的(de)(de)(de)(de)石(shi)塊和(he)各類(lei)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)遺(yi)物(wu)。第(di)2層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),據土(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)土(tu)(tu)(tu)色可(ke)分ZA與ZC兩小層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。ZA層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),色淺灰(hui),質(zhi)(zhi)松(song)軟,多處留(liu)有(you)(you)地(di)面(mian)房子(zi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)居(ju)住(zhu)面(mian)和(he)火塘遺(yi)跡。ZC層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),為(wei)黃(huang)花(hua)土(tu)(tu)(tu),質(zhi)(zhi)堅硬(ying),呈塊狀。ZB層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)打(da)破ZC層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(2B層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)實為(wei)灰(hui)坑附近的(de)(de)(de)(de)紅褐土(tu)(tu)(tu))厚(hou)0.3-0.5米(mi),遺(yi)物(wu)豐富(fu),出有(you)(you)大量(liang)泥質(zhi)(zhi)籃紋灰(hui)陶片(pian)(pian)(pian)(pian)。 第(di)3層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),色深灰(hui),質(zhi)(zhi)松(song)軟,厚(hou)0.1-0.2米(mi),中(zhong)間(jian)夾(jia)有(you)(you)一至兩層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)居(ju)住(zhu)面(mian),仍以灰(hui)色藍紋陶片(pian)(pian)(pian)(pian)為(wei)多,陶胎(tai)多呈褐色。第(di)4層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),褐色土(tu)(tu)(tu),土(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)細(xi)(xi)且(qie)硬(ying),厚(hou)0.3-0.4米(mi),包含(han)陶片(pian)(pian)(pian)(pian)以泥質(zhi)(zhi)灰(hui)褐和(he)泥質(zhi)(zhi)橙(cheng)黃(huang)陶居(ju)多,并有(you)(you)少(shao)量(liang)彩陶。此層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以下即(ji)生土(tu)(tu)(tu)。 在IT10與IT21中(zhong),屬于第(di)4層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)IF10和(he)IF18的(de)(de)(de)(de)居(ju)住(zhu)面(mian)下面(mian),壓有(you)(you)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)厚(hou)0.2米(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)黑(hei)土(tu)(tu)(tu),質(zhi)(zhi)地(di)細(xi)(xi)密且(qie)硬(ying),內含(han)少(shao)量(liang)泥質(zhi)(zhi)紅陶和(he)彩陶片(pian)(pian)(pian)(pian)。在1區(qu)南端石(shi)筑圍墻之外開的(de)(de)(de)(de)一條探溝中(zhong),耕(geng)土(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以下即(ji)見此種文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),內出泥質(zhi)(zhi)紅陶和(he)夾(jia)砂褐陶片(pian)(pian)(pian)(pian)。這一文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),可(ke)視為(wei)I區(qu)第(di)5層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。
阿善遺(yi)(yi)址的出土(tu)文物(wu)(wu)豐(feng)富,其中以石器、骨(gu)器和(he)(he)陶器為主,清(qing)理(li)解(jie)剖(pou)圍墻4處,發掘出房子24座(zuo)(zuo)。窖穴220個。墓葬3座(zuo)(zuo),出土(tu)遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)(wu)計約1600多件。動物(wu)(wu)骨(gu)頭、石料、骨(gu)針(zhen)和(he)(he)木炭等也出土(tu)很多;骨(gu)針(zhen)長10.5厘米,短3.8厘米(殘)。骨(gu)針(zhen)用動物(wu)(wu)細骨(gu)制成(cheng),分圓桯和(he)(he)扁桯兩種。針(zhen)尖銳利,表面光(guang)滑,針(zhen)孔清(qing)楚(chu)。骨(gu)針(zhen)筒長15.3厘米,骨(gu)針(zhen)筒是(shi)截取動物(wu)(wu)肢骨(gu)一段,再精工磨(mo)制成(cheng)規整(zheng)器形。骨(gu)針(zhen)筒身無紋飾(shi),磨(mo)制光(guang)滑。
阿善遺址對(dui)于研(yan)究中國北方新石(shi)器時代的(de)文(wen)化面貌、社(she)會形態及其(qi)相鄰(lin)地區的(de)文(wen)化聯系具(ju)(ju)有重要(yao)的(de)價值,為中國史前文(wen)化的(de)考古研(yan)究增添了(le)資料內容,給單一文(wen)化的(de)新石(shi)器時代遺址提供了(le)一個(ge)文(wen)化譜系的(de)地層依據,對(dui)研(yan)究中國農業,紡織,陶瓷,建筑(zhu),工具(ju)(ju)以及美(mei)學等領域的(de)歷史均有價值。
2006年5月25日(ri),阿善遺址被中(zhong)華人民共和(he)國(guo)(guo)國(guo)(guo)務(wu)院(yuan)公布為(wei)第六批全國(guo)(guo)文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位。
2018年,東河區(qu)人民(min)政府(fu)按照“保(bao)護為主(zhu),合(he)理(li)利用,加強管理(li)”的工(gong)作(zuo)原則(ze),加強文物單位巡(xun)查(cha),擴(kuo)大文物保(bao)護范圍。