該遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)約16平(ping)(ping)方公里(li),以頭寨鄉牛門洞村(cun)為中(zhong)心,東北達西(xi)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)、灰(hui)條灣(wan)(wan)(wan)、清明灣(wan)(wan)(wan)、中(zhong)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)頂、華岔(cha)陰(yin)山(shan)(shan)等(deng)地(di)的山(shan)(shan)梁(liang)(liang)上;北面(mian)(mian)(mian)靠中(zhong)灣(wan)(wan)(wan)村(cun),與大地(di)梁(liang)(liang)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)相(xiang)連;西(xi)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)接(jie)喜坪村(cun),與鐵木山(shan)(shan)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)相(xiang)鄰;西(xi)南面(mian)(mian)(mian)接(jie)定西(xi)縣(xian)石(shi)峽灣(wan)(wan)(wan)鄉,沿山(shan)(shan)梁(liang)(liang)可與大泉灣(wan)(wan)(wan)梁(liang)(liang)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)相(xiang)接(jie)。遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)重點為墓葬區,多分(fen)布于山(shan)(shan)梁(liang)(liang)的緩(huan)坡地(di)帶。面(mian)(mian)(mian)積(ji)約40萬平(ping)(ping)方米。文化(hua)層(ceng)厚1—2米,遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)顯示有墓葬、地(di)穴、灰(hui)坑、燒土(tu)、炭屑、白(bai)灰(hui)面(mian)(mian)(mian)、骨類、陶器、石(shi)器、玉器等(deng)。
遺(yi)址地表暴露(lu)有大量的殘跡陶片。
從出土遺物看,該(gai)遺址從馬(ma)家窯(yao)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)一(yi)直延續到(dao)齊家文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua),其中又以半山(shan)類型(xing)(xing)的彩陶(tao)(tao)出土為(wei)多。遺址墓(mu)葬分(fen)為(wei)仰(yang)身直肢(zhi)(zhi)葬,少(shao)數為(wei)側(ce)身屈肢(zhi)(zhi)葬。一(yi)般葬場有(you)生活用品的陶(tao)(tao)具和(he)石(shi)(shi)器(qi)隨葬品。經鑒(jian)定,牛(niu)門洞為(wei)仰(yang)韶文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)嶺下類型(xing)(xing),馬(ma)家窯(yao)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)馬(ma)家窯(yao)、半山(shan)、馬(ma)廠(chang)類型(xing)(xing)、齊家文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)、寺(si)洼文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)、辛(xin)店文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)等類型(xing)(xing)并(bing)存的新石(shi)(shi)器(qi)、青銅器(qi)時(shi)代遺址。范圍之廣,跨代之長(chang),在甘肅史前遺址都是首屈一(yi)指的。
1920年當地秦安移民墾荒時出土彩陶罐。由于當時會寧文化落后,缺乏研究(jiu)人才,加之交(jiao)通不便,住處閉塞,按照(zhao)國際慣(guan)例先發(fa)現先命(ming)名(ming)(ming)(ming)的命(ming)名(ming)(ming)(ming)法則(ze),本應(ying)將新石器(qi)這(zhe)一時(shi)期的文(wen)化命(ming)名(ming)(ming)(ming)為(wei)牛(niu)門洞(dong)文(wen)化,而(er)由瑞典地(di)質學家(jia)兼(jian)考古學家(jia)安特生及其助手于1924年(nian)在(zai)臨洮馬家(jia)窯進行挖掘(jue)并(bing)發(fa)現了新石器(qi)時(shi)代(dai)的彩陶,從而(er)馬家(jia)窯搶(qiang)在(zai)了前面,獲(huo)得了命(ming)名(ming)(ming)(ming)權。而(er)比馬家(jia)窯出土文(wen)物(wu)早五(wu)年(nian)的牛(niu)門洞(dong)與命(ming)名(ming)(ming)(ming)權擦肩而(er)過,終為(wei)憾事。
牛門洞在(zai)1975年大(da)(da)搞(gao)農田基本建(jian)設時,發(fa)現在(zai)上述山(shan)梁深1米(mi)處(chu),每間隔1米(mi),即(ji)有墓(mu)穴,內(nei)有大(da)(da)量壺、甕、罐、缽(bo)盆(pen)等(deng)(deng)彩陶(tao)及骨球(qiu)、石(shi)(shi)器(qi)、刮(gua)削(xue)器(qi)、紡(fang)輪等(deng)(deng)隨葬(zang)品,并(bing)在(zai)生活區出土大(da)(da)量陶(tao)器(qi),制罐工具(ju)、生活用具(ju)、石(shi)(shi)祖、石(shi)(shi)、權杖頭等(deng)(deng)。文化(hua)層厚1—2米(mi)。
牛門洞文化僅為零量出土,沒有進(jin)行大規模的科學考察(cha)和系統(tong)的挖掘清理,其代(dai)表精品(pin)有蛙紋雙耳彩陶(tao)罐,繩紋素陶(tao)罐,細(xi)頸(jing)侈口藍(lan)紋紅陶(tao)罐,高(gao)頸(jing)藍(lan)紋雙耳罐,高(gao)頸(jing)藍(lan)紋瓶,灰(hui)陶(tao)盆紅陶(tao)鬲(li),三孔石刀等。