景點簡介
祿(lu)豐恐(kong)龍(long)博(bo)物(wu)館位于(yu)祿(lu)豐縣城內(nei),占地3000平方米,共有八個展廳(ting),里面陳(chen)列著(zhu)世(shi)界(jie)上(shang)最(zui)古(gu)老的(de)恐(kong)龍(long)化(hua)石、古(gu)猿化(hua)石以及(ji)明代瓷器,清代的(de)銅佛像等。其中,一億多年前的(de)恐(kong)龍(long)化(hua)石和(he)八百(bai)多萬(wan)年前古(gu)猿化(hua)石中外馳名,祿(lu)豐因此而(er)被譽為恐(kong)龍(long)和(he)臘瑪古(gu)猿之(zhi)鄉。
祿豐恐龍發現
1938年(nian)(nian)冬,我(wo)(wo)國地質學家(jia)(jia)卞美年(nian)(nian)教(jiao)授到(dao)祿(lu)豐(feng)考察(cha)地質,想從(cong)那些八公尺厚的(de)紅色土層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)尋(xun)找鹽和石膏礦,到(dao)祿(lu)豐(feng)聽農民(min)說紅層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)埋(mai)有龍骨,他進(jin)行了(le)小(xiao)規模的(de)發掘(jue),并找到(dao)許(xu)多。此后,我(wo)(wo)國古脊(ji)椎動物學家(jia)(jia)楊鐘健教(jiao)授通(tong)過(guo)10多年(nian)(nian)的(de)潛心研究,先后發表了(le)《祿(lu)豐(feng)蜥腳類恐龍的(de)初(chu)步研究報(bao)告》等論文,受到(dao)了(le)國內外古生(sheng)物學界(jie)的(de)重視。隨(sui)后,祿(lu)豐(feng)的(de)名(ming)字被很多國家(jia)(jia)寫進(jin)了(le)古生(sheng)物和生(sheng)物教(jiao)科(ke)書之中(zhong)(zhong)。1984年(nian)(nian)12月,縣文化館又在宋家(jia)(jia)坡發掘(jue)了(le)一條長約6米(mi),高2米(mi)多的(de)完(wan)整恐龍化石,這是自60年(nian)(nian)代(dai)以來(lai)所發掘(jue)的(de)6條恐龍化石中(zhong)(zhong)最完(wan)整的(de)一條。
根據科學(xue)家們(men)的(de)研(yan)究和分析,祿(lu)豐(feng)恐(kong)(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)生(sheng)活在(zai)一億(yi)八(ba)千萬年前(qian)的(de)晚(wan)三(san)迭紀,大(da)約又(you)在(zai)八(ba)千萬年前(qian)突然消失(shi)了。它是中(zhong)生(sheng)代(dai)(dai)地球上早期恐(kong)(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)起(qi)源(yuan)、演化的(de)重要組成部分。祿(lu)豐(feng)恐(kong)(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)分屬于蜥龍(long)(long)(long)目和烏龍(long)(long)(long)目兩大(da)家族(zu),包括祿(lu)豐(feng)龍(long)(long)(long)、云(yun)南龍(long)(long)(long)、兀龍(long)(long)(long)、蘆溝龍(long)(long)(long)、中(zhong)國(guo)龍(long)(long)(long)和大(da)地龍(long)(long)(long)等六個屬的(de)至(zhi)少八(ba)個種(zhong),體形有大(da)有小,食(shi)(shi)性有素食(shi)(shi)者和肉(rou)食(shi)(shi)者之分。祿(lu)豐(feng)恐(kong)(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)時代(dai)(dai)較早,代(dai)(dai)表性強,是闡明恐(kong)(kong)龍(long)(long)(long)起(qi)源(yuan)、演化和發展的(de)珍(zhen)貴(gui)化石證據。
古猿化石發現
1975年(nian)5月,祿(lu)(lu)豐縣(xian)(xian)石(shi)(shi)灰(hui)壩(ba)村的(de)農民在(zai)距縣(xian)(xian)城之北(bei)9公(gong)里的(de)廟山(shan)坡挖褐(he)煤時,發(fa)現(xian)了(le)一枚牙(ya)(ya)齒(chi)化石(shi)(shi),經鑒定,屬早上新世的(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)牙(ya)(ya)齒(chi)化石(shi)(shi),引(yin)起了(le)我(wo)國(guo)生物(wu)(wu)界(jie)的(de)重視。同年(nian)11月,中國(guo)科學院古(gu)(gu)(gu)脊椎動物(wu)(wu)和(he)古(gu)(gu)(gu)人(ren)類(lei)研究所(suo),云南省(sheng)博(bo)物(wu)(wu)館(guan)和(he)縣(xian)(xian)文化館(guan)到該地進(jin)行發(fa)掘,發(fa)現(xian)了(le)一個完(wan)整的(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)下頜骨(gu)和(he)數枚單(dan)個牙(ya)(ya)齒(chi),經鑒定屬于西瓦古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)類(lei)型。1980年(nian)春(chun),在(zai)吳汝(ru)康教授的(de)指導下,石(shi)(shi)灰(hui)壩(ba)首次(ci)發(fa)現(xian)了(le)較完(wan)整的(de)臘瑪古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)頭(tou)骨(gu)化石(shi)(shi),還(huan)有200多枚牙(ya)(ya)齒(chi)、40多種動物(wu)(wu)骨(gu)化石(shi)(shi),在(zai)國(guo)內外(wai)古(gu)(gu)(gu)生物(wu)(wu)學界(jie)引(yin)起了(le)震動。因(yin)為臘瑪古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)化石(shi)(shi)過去曾(ceng)在(zai)南亞、東非、云南省(sheng)開遠等地都(dou)(dou)曾(ceng)發(fa)現(xian)過,但都(dou)(dou)比較破碎和(he)零(ling)星,像祿(lu)(lu)豐這樣豐富和(he)完(wan)整的(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)化石(shi)(shi),在(zai)國(guo)內外(wai)都(dou)(dou)是第一次(ci)。
臘(la)瑪古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)化(hua)石,最(zui)先是美國(guo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)劉易斯于1932年(nian)在印度西瓦(wa)立克山區(qu)(qu)中發現(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),生活年(nian)代大約距今(jin)一(yi)(yi)千四百萬(wan)年(nian)至八百萬(wan)年(nian)之間(jian),他以印度神臘(la)瑪的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)名字,把它命名為“臘(la)瑪古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”,意思是“希望之光(guang)”。因為近一(yi)(yi)百多年(nian)來人(ren)(ren)(ren)們根據大量的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)古(gu)(gu)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)化(hua)石出土和對(dui)自然界(jie)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)探索認識到(dao),人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)是由(you)古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)進化(hua)而來的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)化(hua)石的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)發現(xian),對(dui)研究(jiu)從猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)到(dao)人(ren)(ren)(ren)提(ti)供了較(jiao)為真實的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)科(ke)學(xue)根據。臘(la)瑪古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)又是一(yi)(yi)種比較(jiao)進步的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)類(lei)(lei),是早期(qi)人(ren)(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)直接祖先。雖然不(bu)同(tong)地區(qu)(qu),不(bu)同(tong)類(lei)(lei)型的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)臘(la)瑪古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)特征存在著差異(yi),但都具有從猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)進化(hua)到(dao)人(ren)(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)許(xu)多特征,科(ke)學(xue)家們一(yi)(yi)致把臘(la)瑪古(gu)(gu)猿(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)歸入人(ren)(ren)(ren)科(ke),具有重大的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)科(ke)研價值。
考古價值
考古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)學家(jia)們研究發(fa)現,祿(lu)(lu)豐(feng)(feng)(feng)不僅是(shi)國內外(wai)發(fa)現臘瑪(ma)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿的(de)(de)地(di)區(qu)中最(zui)為豐(feng)(feng)(feng)富(fu)的(de)(de),而(er)(er)且是(shi)世界上(shang)(shang)唯一(yi)發(fa)現臘瑪(ma)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿頭(tou)骨(gu)的(de)(de)地(di)方。從(cong)祿(lu)(lu)豐(feng)(feng)(feng)臘瑪(ma)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿的(de)(de)頭(tou)骨(gu)看,枕(zhen)骨(gu)大(da)孔的(de)(de)位置比(bi)其(qi)(qi)他猿類(lei)(lei)靠前很多(duo),面額比(bi)其(qi)(qi)他猿類(lei)(lei)較為縮(suo)小(xiao),腦(nao)顱擴張,腦(nao)容量增加,整個頭(tou)的(de)(de)重(zhong)心已(yi)(yi)經移到(dao)支(zhi)點枕(zhen)骨(gu)裸的(de)(de)地(di)方,這說明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)祿(lu)(lu)豐(feng)(feng)(feng)臘瑪(ma)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿已(yi)(yi)經能夠直(zhi)立行走,而(er)(er)直(zhi)立行走是(shi)從(cong)猿到(dao)人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)具有(you)(you)決定意義的(de)(de)一(yi)步(bu)。古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿的(de)(de)上(shang)(shang)頜骨(gu)頰齒齒冠短而(er)(er)寬(kuan),犬(quan)齒不外(wai)突,說明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)吻(wen)部(bu)取食,攻擊的(de)(de)作用已(yi)(yi)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)顯退化,而(er)(er)由(you)逐漸發(fa)達的(de)(de)雙(shuang)手所代替,整個頭(tou)骨(gu)的(de)(de)結構及形(xing)態與(yu)早(zao)期直(zhi)立人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)非常相似。上(shang)(shang)頜骨(gu)齒弓(gong)呈拋物線型,與(yu)其(qi)(qi)他猿類(lei)(lei)的(de)(de)U字型齒弓(gong)有(you)(you)著根本的(de)(de)區(qu)別(bie),下頜骨(gu)齒弓(gong)則呈規則的(de)(de)拱型,與(yu)早(zao)期直(zhi)立人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)相似。種種跡(ji)象表(biao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming),祿(lu)(lu)豐(feng)(feng)(feng)臘瑪(ma)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)猿是(shi)“正在成(cheng)長中的(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)”。它(ta)對于闡明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)起源的(de)(de)理論,以(yi)及探(tan)尋(xun)人(ren)(ren)類(lei)(lei)起源的(de)(de)地(di)點、時間等,都具有(you)(you)十分(fen)重(zhong)大(da)的(de)(de)歷史價(jia)值和科(ke)學意義。