連雲港地區古人類觀測天文和日月星辰崇拜的遺址很多，同時，這裏也是史前先民們觀天測象中心之一。它分佈較為廣泛，為了更好地認識它，我們對本市境內以錦屏山（馬耳峰）、大伊山、馬陵山等三個地區的史前遺址及周邊進行了拉網式的調查。岩畫斷代從下面幾個方面做一個初步的認定。運用科技手段斷定年代；運用古星象變化斷定年代；從製作工藝上測定它的大致年代；運用和出土文物比較斷定年代。經過多方面多管道的論證，認定這些石穴岩畫（遠古星象圖）的年代在 10000 年左右。

Many ancient sites in the Lianyungang area are connected with astronomical observations and worship of the sun, moon, and stars; the area was, in fact, a center for sky-watching in ancient times. The sites are distributed widely; in order to gain a clearer understanding, we conducted a dragnet survey of the prehistoric sites within the boundaries of this city at the three localities of Jinping Mountain (Ma-er Mountain), Dayi Mountain, and Maling Mountain. A preliminary estimation of the ages of some of the petroglyphs was performed relying on the aspects below. Technological methods were used to determine age, and changes in the styles of the celestial charts also provided a basis for assessing age. The skill with which they were painted enabled rough
estimates of age to be made, and artifacts excavated nearby provided another method of judging comparative age. After far-ranging discussion through many channels, it was determined that these petroglyphs (ancient celestial charts) were made roughly 10,000 years ago.