1960年,廣(guang)東(dong)省博物館工(gong)作人員在西(xi)江兩岸進行考古普查時,發(fa)現(xian)了此遺址(zhi),編為5號洞(dong)。
1964年由(you)省博物(wu)(wu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)考(kao)古隊(dui)(dui)(dui)進(jin)行第(di)(di)一次試掘(jue)(jue)探方(fang)。1973年7月省考(kao)古隊(dui)(dui)(dui)和(he)縣(xian)文化(hua)館(guan)(guan)(guan)人(ren)員進(jin)行第(di)(di)二次發(fa)掘(jue)(jue)。1978年,省考(kao)古大(da)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)、地區博物(wu)(wu)館(guan)(guan)(guan)與縣(xian)文化(hua)館(guan)(guan)(guan)聯合(he)組成發(fa)掘(jue)(jue)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)進(jin)行第(di)(di)三次發(fa)掘(jue)(jue)。1983年1月省考(kao)古大(da)隊(dui)(dui)(dui)與縣(xian)文化(hua)館(guan)(guan)(guan)人(ren)員又進(jin)行第(di)(di)四次發(fa)掘(jue)(jue)。
發掘出的(de)文(wen)(wen)物(wu)中有(you)舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)時(shi)代晚(wan)期的(de)“智人”牙齒1枚,遺(yi)物(wu)四百余件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),動物(wu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)千余件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。發掘出土的(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)共有(you)243件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),分打(da)(da)制(zhi)和磨制(zhi)兩種。打(da)(da)制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)227件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)中有(you)砍砸器(qi)42件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),刮削器(qi)45件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)錘(chui)14件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)砧1件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)片(pian)29件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)核50件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),半(ban)成品46件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian);磨制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)16件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)中有(you)切割器(qi)7件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),穿(chuan)孔石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)9件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),骨(gu)(gu)器(qi)6件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其(qi)中有(you)骨(gu)(gu)鏃1件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),骨(gu)(gu)錐3件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),半(ban)成品2件(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。據北京社會科學(xue)院考古研究所碳(tan)14化(hua)(hua)驗室以(yi)螺蚌殼作(zuo)標(biao)(biao)本進(jin)行的(de)測定(ding)和北京大學(xue)碳(tan)14實驗室用獸骨(gu)(gu)化(hua)(hua)石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)作(zuo)標(biao)(biao)本進(jin)行的(de)測定(ding),其(qi)結果:文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)厚達(da)2.5米(mi),分上(shang)、中、下(xia)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng),上(shang)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距(ju)今(1978年(nian)(nian),下(xia)同)為(wei)14262年(nian)(nian),中文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距(ju)今為(wei)15350年(nian)(nian),下(xia)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)距(ju)今為(wei)16650年(nian)(nian)。據此,獨石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)仔洞(dong)穴遺(yi)址的(de)年(nian)(nian)代,定(ding)為(wei)舊石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)時(shi)代晚(wan)期之末至新石(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)器(qi)時(shi)代初期。該遺(yi)址已列為(wei)廣東省文(wen)(wen)物(wu)保護(hu)單位(wei)。
位(wei)于陽(yang)(yang)春北部的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)朗(lang)鎮,周(zhou)圍(wei)十(shi)幾座(zuo)秀(xiu)麗的(de)(de)(de)(de)山峰環繞(rao),山間(jian)是平整(zheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)秧田和(he)農舍,一(yi)(yi)(yi)條小河(he)蜿蜒(yan)流過(guo),在(zai)高大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)凌(ling)霄(xiao)(xiao)巖(yan)(yan)前并沒(mei)有(you)(you)止步(bu),而(er)是穿山而(er)過(guo),向(xiang)北流到了鄰(lin)(lin)(lin)縣(xian)云浮。在(zai)與另一(yi)(yi)(yi)條名(ming)叫玉溪的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)水匯合后,又返回河(he)朗(lang),從此一(yi)(yi)(yi)直向(xiang)南,一(yi)(yi)(yi)百八十(shi)公里之后,進入南中國海(hai)。 凌(ling)霄(xiao)(xiao)巖(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)外貌與其他相(xiang)鄰(lin)(lin)(lin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)山峰并沒(mei)有(you)(you)太(tai)大(da)(da)差異,但(dan)是隨著河(he)水走進山洞(dong)(dong),再爬上三(san)十(shi)多米高的(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個陡坡,你就會發現(xian)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個神奇的(de)(de)(de)(de)熔巖(yan)(yan)世界。凌(ling)霄(xiao)(xiao)巖(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)從地下暗河(he)的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)面(mian)算起,有(you)(you)177米高,全洞(dong)(dong)分為四層(ceng),第(di)(di)一(yi)(yi)(yi)層(ceng)是一(yi)(yi)(yi)條縱貫(guan)全洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)暗河(he),這(zhe)條河(he)發源(yuan)在(zai)陽(yang)(yang)春境內,流過(guo)山洞(dong)(dong)后便(bian)進入了另一(yi)(yi)(yi)個縣(xian)境。陽(yang)(yang)春和(he)鄰(lin)(lin)(lin)縣(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)鄉民,來來往(wang)(wang)往(wang)(wang)都要從這(zhe)條暗河(he)上通(tong)過(guo)。溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)第(di)(di)二(er)層(ceng)是一(yi)(yi)(yi)個有(you)(you)60米高的(de)(de)(de)(de)熔巖(yan)(yan)大(da)(da)廳,19根巨(ju)大(da)(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)石筍、石柱矗立在(zai)大(da)(da)廳周(zhou)圍(wei),這(zhe)些石柱,有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)如高達數十(shi)米的(de)(de)(de)(de)“羅(luo)漢松(song)”,有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)像層(ceng)層(ceng)疊疊的(de)(de)(de)(de)“蘑菇山”,更有(you)(you)銀光閃(shan)爍的(de)(de)(de)(de)“玉柱瓊臺”,現(xian)在(zai),這(zhe)個大(da)(da)廳被命(ming)名(ming)為凌(ling)霄(xiao)(xiao)大(da)(da)殿,是凌(ling)霄(xiao)(xiao)巖(yan)(yan)溶(rong)洞(dong)(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)核(he)心部分。
玉(yu)(yu)溪(xi)(xi)三(san)洞景區(qu)位于陽春市(shi)西(xi)北部(bu),距市(shi)區(qu)約(yue)(yue)70公里,省道s369線繞(rao)景區(qu)而過。該(gai)景區(qu)既是省級風景名勝區(qu),又是國(guo)家地質公園的重要(yao)組成(cheng)部(bu)分。玉(yu)(yu)溪(xi)(xi)三(san)洞景區(qu)由漠陽江上(shang)(shang)游的甘婪河水(shui)穿(chuan)透三(san)座石(shi)(shi)山溶蝕而成(cheng),全長(chang)3公里多(duo),均可(ke)坐船(chuan)(chuan)游覽(lan),由二洞乘(cheng)船(chuan)(chuan)往上(shang)(shang)游。第二洞長(chang)約(yue)(yue)330米,河水(shui)清澈流璧,水(shui)中(zhong)(zhong)多(duo)生長(chang)鯉魚。洞中(zhong)(zhong)景物豐富,尤以“三(san)變石(shi)(shi)”為趣(qu), 詩人(ren)張永(yong)枚曰:“遠似漁翁釣(diao)清流,近如獅子滾繡球,忽(hu)變犀(xi)牛(niu)望明(ming)月,一(yi)(yi)石(shi)(shi)三(san)景迷輕(qing)舟”。第一(yi)(yi)洞頂的“皇冠(guan)”石(shi)(shi),酷(ku)似皇冠(guan),游人(ren)在(zai)船(chuan)(chuan)上(shang)(shang)隨(sui)即可(ke)拍(pai)攝一(yi)(yi)幅頭戴皇冠(guan)的照(zhao)片。 第一(yi)(yi)洞長(chang)400米,上(shang)(shang)面有一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)旱洞,水(shui)面距洞頂48米,該(gai)洞以“金(jin)盞疊泉”較為壯觀――一(yi)(yi)個(ge)個(ge)金(jin)色石(shi)(shi)盞滿(man)載清澈的泉水(shui)逐層(ceng)下(xia)溢。詩人(ren)韋丘贊道:“串玉(yu)(yu)溪(xi)(xi)穿(chuan)三(san)洞天,柔情碧水(shui)石(shi)(shi)能言,聲聲燕語留歸客,舉(ju)槳猶疑落(luo)槳難。”在(zai)玉(yu)(yu)溪(xi)(xi)二洞下(xia)游的1公里處,還有玉(yu)(yu)溪(xi)(xi)第三(san)洞,洞長(chang)約(yue)(yue)500米,既可(ke)坐船(chuan)(chuan)游玩,又可(ke)登巖(yan)賞景,洞中(zhong)(zhong)景物千姿百態,栩栩如生。坐船(chuan)(chuan)慢游其中(zhong)(zhong),如穿(chuan)梭在(zai)山水(shui)畫廊,頗有桃源之趣(qu)。