駱駝(tuo)墩遺址出現(xian)約在7000到5000年前,是(shi)一處重(zhong)要(yao)的新石(shi)器時代遺址。同(tong)時,駱駝(tuo)墩一直也是(shi)太(tai)湖流(liu)域新石(shi)器時代文化(hua)的發(fa)源(yuan)地。太(tai)湖是(shi)在新石(shi)器時代中(zhong)期形成(cheng)的,而駱駝(tuo)墩文化(hua)早(zao)可(ke)以追溯(su)到新石(shi)器時代晚期前段(duan)。
1959年(nian),南京博物院和(he)宜(yi)興市文(wen)物管理委員會(hui)聯合對(dui)駱駝墩遺(yi)址進行第1次探掘。
1962年(nian),南京博物(wu)院和宜(yi)興市文物(wu)管理委員會聯合對駱駝墩遺址進行試(shi)掘。
2001年(nian)11月—2002年(nian)7月,南(nan)京(jing)博物(wu)院和宜興市文物(wu)管理(li)委員會(hui)聯合對駱駝墩(dun)遺址進(jin)行考古發掘(jue),發掘(jue)面積(ji)1309平方米(mi)。
駱(luo)駝(tuo)墩遺(yi)址(zhi)占(zhan)地(di)(di)面(mian)積(ji)約(yue)(yue)25萬平(ping)方米(mi),文化堆(dui)積(ji)厚度平(ping)均(jun)約(yue)(yue)為(wei)3米(mi)。駱(luo)駝(tuo)墩遺(yi)址(zhi)分(fen)南(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)2個(ge)區(qu),兩區(qu)相隔約(yue)(yue)500米(mi)。南(nan)區(qu)在(zai)俗(su)稱“駱(luo)駝(tuo)墩”的(de)(de)丘陵崗地(di)(di),是一(yi)高出地(di)(di)面(mian)約(yue)(yue)15米(mi)、面(mian)積(ji)近5萬平(ping)方米(mi)的(de)(de)土崗;北(bei)(bei)(bei)區(qu)在(zai)唐南(nan)村(cun)北(bei)(bei)(bei),地(di)(di)表(biao)之下即為(wei)文化層堆(dui)積(ji)。北(bei)(bei)(bei)區(qu)的(de)(de)西(xi)部(bu)、西(xi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)、北(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)及東北(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)有河道呈(cheng)半(ban)環繞狀,東南(nan)部(bu)為(wei)平(ping)地(di)(di)。
駱駝墩(dun)遺址文化層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)堆積分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)不(bu)均(jun),可分(fen)(fen)為(wei)(wei)10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。第1層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)表(biao)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),灰黑(hei)色,土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)疏松(song),厚(hou)15-35厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第2層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)主要分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)于整(zheng)個發掘(jue)北(bei)(bei)區的(de)(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)部(bu)偏西,為(wei)(wei)灰白(bai)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)色略偏黃,土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)中(zhong)(zhong)夾(jia)有少量(liang)(liang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)紅燒土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆粒,地(di)(di)(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)年代為(wei)(wei)良渚文化時期;第3層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)位(wei)(wei)灰黃土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)緊密(mi),距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)20-70厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)25-45厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)雜有較(jiao)多的(de)(de)(de)(de)紅燒土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆粒;第4層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)青灰土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)緊密(mi),距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)50-100厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)10-55厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)雜一定數量(liang)(liang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)紅燒土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆粒;第5層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)則集中(zhong)(zhong)分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)于整(zheng)個發掘(jue)北(bei)(bei)區的(de)(de)(de)(de)東(dong)南角(jiao),為(wei)(wei)灰白(bai)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)潮(chao)濕純(chun)凈(jing)致(zhi)(zhi)密(mi);第6層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)位(wei)(wei)黑(hei)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)松(song)軟,距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)90-100厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)0-40厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi), 主要分(fen)(fen)布(bu)(bu)于北(bei)(bei)T5131、 北(bei)(bei)T5132、北(bei)(bei)T5135等探方;第7層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)黃綠土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)緊密(mi)潮(chao)濕,距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)80-165厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)0-60厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夾(jia)雜一定數量(liang)(liang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)紅燒土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)塊和紅燒土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)顆粒;第8層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)綠灰土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng), 土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)松(song)軟較(jiao)淤,距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)85-165厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)、厚(hou)0-45厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第9層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)灰黃土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)緊密(mi)細軟,距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)130-200厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)0-65厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)黑(hei)色泥炭(tan)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)致(zhi)(zhi)密(mi)潮(chao)濕,為(wei)(wei)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)泥炭(tan)夾(jia)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)淤泥,再夾(jia)一層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)泥炭(tan),形成(cheng)夾(jia)心餅(bing)干狀的(de)(de)(de)(de)堆積,距(ju)(ju)(ju)地(di)(di)(di)表(biao)135-245厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),厚(hou)15-65厘(li)(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);第10層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)下為(wei)(wei)土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)質(zhi)(zhi)致(zhi)(zhi)密(mi)純(chun)凈(jing)的(de)(de)(de)(de)青黃色生土(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)(tu)。
2001年(nian)—2002年(nian),南京(jing)博物院(yuan)和宜興市文物管(guan)理委員會(hui)聯合對駱駝(tuo)墩遺(yi)址進(jin)行考古(gu)發掘,發現(xian)了(le)馬家浜文化時期(qi)的(de)大(da)型(xing)聚落遺(yi)址,包括墓(mu)葬52座(zuo)、甕棺(guan)(guan)39座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)5座(zuo)、房址3座(zuo)、大(da)型(xing)貝(bei)類(lei)及螺(luo)殼堆積1處、祭祀遺(yi)跡4處,其中有(you)甕棺(guan)(guan)葬等(deng)。另(ling)外,還發現(xian)了(le)崧澤文化時期(qi)的(de)墓(mu)葬1座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)2座(zuo),良(liang)渚(zhu)文化時期(qi)的(de)墓(mu)葬3座(zuo)、灰坑(keng)3座(zuo),以(yi)及廣(guang)富林文化時期(qi)的(de)文化堆積等(deng)。遺(yi)址內共出土了(le)陶(tao)(tao)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、石器(qi)(qi)(qi)、骨(gu)器(qi)(qi)(qi)、玉器(qi)(qi)(qi)等(deng)約(yue)400件(jian),以(yi)及各類(lei)動物骨(gu)骼(ge)標本約(yue)2000件(jian)。陶(tao)(tao)器(qi)(qi)(qi)器(qi)(qi)(qi)形(xing)有(you)足為側三角形(xing)的(de)鼎、罐、圈(quan)足器(qi)(qi)(qi)、豆、缽、釜、 盉等(deng),紋(wen)飾多弦(xian)紋(wen)、交(jiao)叉刻劃紋(wen)及鏤孔等(deng),陶(tao)(tao)片有(you)夾砂黑、灰、褐、紅陶(tao)(tao)。石器(qi)(qi)(qi)有(you)靴形(xing)石刀等(deng)。
駱(luo)(luo)駝(tuo)墩遺(yi)址(zhi)是(shi)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)西(xi)(xi)岸(an)重(zhong)要的(de)(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史(shi)(shi)地理坐標,它(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)發(fa)現推動(dong)了(le)(le)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)西(xi)(xi)岸(an)文(wen)明起(qi)源(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)。同時確立了(le)(le)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)新(xin)石器文(wen)化(hua)(hua)新(xin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)類型——駱(luo)(luo)駝(tuo)墩文(wen)化(hua)(hua)類型。駱(luo)(luo)駝(tuo)墩遺(yi)址(zhi)為(wei)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)西(xi)(xi)部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)史(shi)(shi)前(qian)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)提(ti)供(gong)了(le)(le)新(xin)材料,填補(bu)了(le)(le)環(huan)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)西(xi)(xi)部(bu)史(shi)(shi)前(qian)考古(gu)學(xue)(xue)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)空白(bai),成功連接了(le)(le)環(huan)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)圈(quan)研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)缺環(huan),證明了(le)(le)長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)是(shi)中華民族文(wen)明的(de)(de)(de)(de)起(qi)源(yuan)地之一。為(wei)更(geng)加深入地研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)下游新(xin)石器時代考古(gu)學(xue)(xue)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)(de)(de)譜系、源(yuan)流(liu)、共(gong)存(cun)與交流(liu),研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)馬家(jia)浜文(wen)化(hua)(hua)、跨湖(hu)橋遺(yi)存(cun)、駱(luo)(luo)駝(tuo)墩文(wen)化(hua)(hua)、河姆渡文(wen)化(hua)(hua)等文(wen)化(hua)(hua)共(gong)同體之間的(de)(de)(de)(de)關系以(yi)及它(ta)(ta)們所(suo)構成的(de)(de)(de)(de)史(shi)(shi)前(qian)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)格局提(ti)供(gong)了(le)(le)佐證,對研(yan)(yan)究(jiu)太(tai)(tai)(tai)湖(hu)流(liu)域(yu)(yu)乃至長(chang)(chang)江(jiang)下游古(gu)代文(wen)明的(de)(de)(de)(de)進程(cheng)具有重(zhong)要意義。
2003年3月,駱駝墩遺址被宜興市人民政府公布為市級文(wen)物保護單位。
2006年5月25日(ri),駱(luo)駝墩遺址被中華(hua)人民共和(he)國國務院公布為第(di)六批全國重點(dian)文(wen)物保護單位。
2011年,宜(yi)興市人民政府(fu)對駱駝墩遺址制定了保(bao)護規劃,規劃包(bao)含(han)圍(wei)繞遺址的(de)生態綠化(hua)(hua),設定駱駝墩遺址保(bao)護范(fan)圍(wei)與建設控制地帶,包(bao)含(han)管理服務區、博物館陳列(lie)展(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)示區、史前文化(hua)(hua)展(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)示區、農(nong)耕文化(hua)(hua)展(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)示區與濱水濕地漁獵休閑區。
駱駝(tuo)(tuo)墩(dun)遺址文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)含有相當(dang)于馬(ma)家浜文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)時期的(de)(de)遺存以(yi)及(ji)崧澤文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)、良渚文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)等(deng)多個時期的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)遺存。駱駝(tuo)(tuo)墩(dun)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)和河(he)姆渡文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)、馬(ma)家浜文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua),共同(tong)開發了(le)長江下(xia)游的(de)(de)環太湖地區(qu),加(jia)速了(le)長江下(xia)游的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)化(hua)(hua)進(jin)程(cheng),并導致(zhi)良渚文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)踏上了(le)文(wen)(wen)(wen)明(ming)時代的(de)(de)門檻。