駱(luo)(luo)駝墩遺(yi)址(zhi)出現約在(zai)7000到5000年前(qian),是(shi)一處重(zhong)要的新(xin)(xin)石(shi)器時(shi)代(dai)遺(yi)址(zhi)。同時(shi),駱(luo)(luo)駝墩一直也是(shi)太湖流域新(xin)(xin)石(shi)器時(shi)代(dai)文化(hua)的發源(yuan)地(di)。太湖是(shi)在(zai)新(xin)(xin)石(shi)器時(shi)代(dai)中期形成的,而駱(luo)(luo)駝墩文化(hua)早可以(yi)追(zhui)溯到新(xin)(xin)石(shi)器時(shi)代(dai)晚(wan)期前(qian)段。
1959年,南京博物院(yuan)和宜興市文物管(guan)理委員會(hui)聯合對駱駝墩遺(yi)址進行第(di)1次探掘。
1962年,南京博物院和宜興市文(wen)物管理(li)委(wei)員(yuan)會聯合對駱(luo)駝墩遺(yi)址(zhi)進行試掘。
2001年11月(yue)—2002年7月(yue),南京(jing)博物院和宜(yi)興(xing)市(shi)文(wen)物管(guan)理(li)委(wei)員(yuan)會聯合對駱駝(tuo)墩遺址進行(xing)考古發(fa)掘,發(fa)掘面積1309平(ping)方米。
駱(luo)(luo)駝墩遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)占(zhan)地(di)(di)面(mian)積(ji)約(yue)25萬平方(fang)米,文(wen)化(hua)堆積(ji)厚(hou)度平均約(yue)為(wei)3米。駱(luo)(luo)駝墩遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)分南(nan)(nan)北(bei)2個區(qu)(qu),兩(liang)區(qu)(qu)相隔約(yue)500米。南(nan)(nan)區(qu)(qu)在(zai)俗(su)稱“駱(luo)(luo)駝墩”的(de)(de)丘(qiu)陵崗(gang)(gang)地(di)(di),是一高(gao)出地(di)(di)面(mian)約(yue)15米、面(mian)積(ji)近5萬平方(fang)米的(de)(de)土崗(gang)(gang);北(bei)區(qu)(qu)在(zai)唐南(nan)(nan)村北(bei),地(di)(di)表之下即(ji)為(wei)文(wen)化(hua)層堆積(ji)。北(bei)區(qu)(qu)的(de)(de)西(xi)部(bu)(bu)、西(xi)北(bei)部(bu)(bu)、北(bei)部(bu)(bu)及東北(bei)部(bu)(bu)有(you)河(he)道(dao)呈半環繞狀,東南(nan)(nan)部(bu)(bu)為(wei)平地(di)(di)。
駱(luo)駝(tuo)墩遺址(zhi)文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)堆積分(fen)布不均(jun),可分(fen)為(wei)(wei)(wei)10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。第(di)(di)1層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)表(biao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),灰(hui)(hui)(hui)黑(hei)色(se)(se),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)疏松,厚(hou)(hou)15-35厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第(di)(di)2層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)主(zhu)要分(fen)布于(yu)整(zheng)(zheng)個發掘(jue)北(bei)區(qu)的(de)中部(bu)偏西,為(wei)(wei)(wei)灰(hui)(hui)(hui)白土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)色(se)(se)略(lve)偏黃(huang)(huang),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)中夾(jia)(jia)有少量的(de)紅(hong)燒(shao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆(ke)粒,地層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)年代為(wei)(wei)(wei)良渚文化(hua)時期;第(di)(di)3層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)位灰(hui)(hui)(hui)黃(huang)(huang)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)緊密,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)20-70厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)25-45厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)(jia)雜(za)有較多的(de)紅(hong)燒(shao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆(ke)粒;第(di)(di)4層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)青(qing)(qing)灰(hui)(hui)(hui)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)緊密,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)50-100厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)10-55厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)(jia)雜(za)一定數量的(de)紅(hong)燒(shao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆(ke)粒;第(di)(di)5層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)則集中分(fen)布于(yu)整(zheng)(zheng)個發掘(jue)北(bei)區(qu)的(de)東南(nan)角,為(wei)(wei)(wei)灰(hui)(hui)(hui)白土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)潮(chao)濕純凈(jing)致(zhi)密;第(di)(di)6層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)位黑(hei)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)松軟,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)90-100厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)0-40厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi), 主(zhu)要分(fen)布于(yu)北(bei)T5131、 北(bei)T5132、北(bei)T5135等探方;第(di)(di)7層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)黃(huang)(huang)綠(lv)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)緊密潮(chao)濕,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)80-165厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)0-60厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)(jia)雜(za)一定數量的(de)紅(hong)燒(shao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)塊和紅(hong)燒(shao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆(ke)粒;第(di)(di)8層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)綠(lv)灰(hui)(hui)(hui)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng), 土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)松軟較淤(yu),距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)85-165厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、厚(hou)(hou)0-45厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第(di)(di)9層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)灰(hui)(hui)(hui)黃(huang)(huang)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)緊密細軟,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)130-200厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)0-65厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第(di)(di)10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)黑(hei)色(se)(se)泥炭層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)致(zhi)密潮(chao)濕,為(wei)(wei)(wei)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)泥炭夾(jia)(jia)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)淤(yu)泥,再(zai)夾(jia)(jia)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)泥炭,形成夾(jia)(jia)心餅(bing)干(gan)狀的(de)堆積,距(ju)(ju)地表(biao)135-245厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)(hou)15-65厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第(di)(di)10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)下為(wei)(wei)(wei)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)致(zhi)密純凈(jing)的(de)青(qing)(qing)黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se)生(sheng)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)。
2001年—2002年,南京(jing)博(bo)物(wu)院和(he)宜興市文物(wu)管理委員會聯合對駱(luo)駝墩遺(yi)(yi)址進行考古發掘,發現了(le)馬家浜文化(hua)(hua)時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)大(da)型(xing)聚落遺(yi)(yi)址,包括墓(mu)葬(zang)52座(zuo)、甕(weng)棺(guan)39座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)5座(zuo)、房址3座(zuo)、大(da)型(xing)貝類(lei)及(ji)螺殼堆(dui)(dui)積1處、祭(ji)祀遺(yi)(yi)跡(ji)4處,其中有(you)(you)甕(weng)棺(guan)葬(zang)等(deng)(deng)(deng)。另外,還發現了(le)崧澤文化(hua)(hua)時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)墓(mu)葬(zang)1座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)2座(zuo),良渚文化(hua)(hua)時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)墓(mu)葬(zang)3座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)3座(zuo),以(yi)及(ji)廣富林文化(hua)(hua)時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)文化(hua)(hua)堆(dui)(dui)積等(deng)(deng)(deng)。遺(yi)(yi)址內共出土了(le)陶(tao)器、石器、骨(gu)器、玉器等(deng)(deng)(deng)約(yue)400件,以(yi)及(ji)各類(lei)動(dong)物(wu)骨(gu)骼標本約(yue)2000件。陶(tao)器器形有(you)(you)足為側(ce)三(san)角形的(de)(de)鼎(ding)、罐、圈足器、豆、缽、釜(fu)、 盉(he)等(deng)(deng)(deng),紋(wen)飾多弦(xian)紋(wen)、交叉刻(ke)劃紋(wen)及(ji)鏤孔等(deng)(deng)(deng),陶(tao)片有(you)(you)夾砂黑(hei)、灰、褐、紅陶(tao)。石器有(you)(you)靴(xue)形石刀等(deng)(deng)(deng)。
駱駝(tuo)墩遺址是(shi)太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)西(xi)岸(an)(an)重要的(de)(de)(de)歷史地(di)理坐(zuo)標,它的(de)(de)(de)發現推動了(le)(le)(le)太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)西(xi)岸(an)(an)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)起(qi)源的(de)(de)(de)研究(jiu)。同時(shi)確立了(le)(le)(le)太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)(yu)新石器(qi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)新的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)類型——駱駝(tuo)墩文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)類型。駱駝(tuo)墩遺址為研究(jiu)太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)西(xi)部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)史前(qian)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)提供(gong)了(le)(le)(le)新材(cai)料,填(tian)補了(le)(le)(le)環太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)西(xi)部(bu)史前(qian)考(kao)古(gu)(gu)學文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)空(kong)白,成功連(lian)接了(le)(le)(le)環太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)(yu)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)圈研究(jiu)的(de)(de)(de)缺環,證明(ming)了(le)(le)(le)長(chang)江(jiang)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)(yu)是(shi)中華民族文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)起(qi)源地(di)之一。為更加深入地(di)研究(jiu)長(chang)江(jiang)下(xia)游新石器(qi)時(shi)代考(kao)古(gu)(gu)學文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)(de)譜系、源流(liu)、共存(cun)與交流(liu),研究(jiu)馬(ma)家浜文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)、跨湖(hu)(hu)(hu)橋遺存(cun)、駱駝(tuo)墩文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)、河姆渡文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)等文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)共同體之間的(de)(de)(de)關系以及它們所構成的(de)(de)(de)史前(qian)文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)格局(ju)提供(gong)了(le)(le)(le)佐證,對研究(jiu)太(tai)(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)(yu)乃至(zhi)長(chang)江(jiang)下(xia)游古(gu)(gu)代文(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)的(de)(de)(de)進(jin)程具有重要意義。
2003年3月,駱(luo)駝墩遺址被(bei)宜興市人民政府公布為市級文(wen)物保護(hu)單位。
2006年5月25日(ri),駱駝墩遺址(zhi)被中華人民共和國國務院公布為第六批全國重點文物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位。
2011年,宜(yi)興市(shi)人(ren)民政府對駱駝(tuo)墩遺址(zhi)制定了保護規(gui)劃,規(gui)劃包含圍繞(rao)遺址(zhi)的(de)生(sheng)態綠化(hua)(hua),設(she)定駱駝(tuo)墩遺址(zhi)保護范圍與(yu)建設(she)控制地(di)帶,包含管理(li)服務(wu)區(qu)、博(bo)物館陳(chen)列展示(shi)區(qu)、史前(qian)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)展示(shi)區(qu)、農耕文(wen)化(hua)(hua)展示(shi)區(qu)與(yu)濱水濕地(di)漁獵休閑區(qu)。
駱駝墩遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)含(han)有(you)相當于馬(ma)家浜文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)存(cun)(cun)以及(ji)崧(song)澤文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)、良渚(zhu)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)等(deng)多個時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)存(cun)(cun)。駱駝墩文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)和河(he)姆(mu)渡文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)、馬(ma)家浜文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua),共(gong)同開發了(le)長(chang)(chang)江下游的(de)(de)環(huan)太湖地(di)區,加速了(le)長(chang)(chang)江下游的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)化(hua)進(jin)程,并(bing)導(dao)致良渚(zhu)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)踏上了(le)文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)時(shi)(shi)代的(de)(de)門檻(jian)。