1988年,經勘探(tan),明確了(le)遺址的方位(wei)。
1989年出土(tu)了唐代(dai)系纜固橋的鐵牛。
1991年(nian)(nian)3月(yue),對該(gai)遺(yi)址進行發掘,出土的遺(yi)物有鐵人四個(ge),鐵山兩座;鐵墩四個(ge),七(qi)星鐵柱一組(七(qi)根),明代防護石堤約(yue)50米及明正(zheng)德十六年(nian)(nian)(1521年(nian)(nian))記(ji)事碑(bei)一通。
考古發(fa)掘的(de)蒲津渡(du)遺址(zhi)是(shi)唐開(kai)元(yuan)(yuan)十二年(公元(yuan)(yuan)724年)修建的(de)“鐵索連(lian)舟固(gu)定式曲浮橋”的(de)遺跡。遺址(zhi)附近還發(fa)現有(you)明代石(shi)碑一(yi)通和石(shi)堤(di)50米(mi)。各長3.3米(mi),高1.5米(mi),重約50~70噸(dun)(dun)。每條鐵牛旁(pang)各有(you)一(yi)鐵人,高約1.9米(mi),重約3噸(dun)(dun)。南側鐵牛下還發(fa)現有(you)鐵板、鐵柱,鐵牛尾部立有(you)鐵制的(de)七星(xing)鐵柱7根。
蒲州(zhou)故城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)相傳(chuan)為堯(yao)、舜帝故郡,是一座(zuo)具有(you)政治(zhi)、經(jing)濟、文(wen)化和軍事意(yi)義的歷史名城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。現存蒲州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為明嘉靖三十四(si)年(1555年)地震后座(zuo)落在(zai)唐(tang)故城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)基(ji)址(zhi)上(shang)屢次(ci)修葺的內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)跡。內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長5400米。外城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為唐(tang)代(dai)夯(hang)土(tu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長約(yue)5700米。內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)明代(dai)磚砌(qi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)保(bao)存完好,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中心鼓樓(lou)臺基(ji)尚存,為磚砌(qi)方形形制,臺基(ji)四(si)面有(you)磚券洞門,大門上(shang)方各有(you)匾書。古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)及四(si)大門甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)尚存。外城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)夯(hang)土(tu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)高于地面5米左右。
蒲州(zhou)故城遺址位于山西(xi)省永濟市西(xi)約(yue)13公里處(chu),為唐至明朝的遺址,蒲津渡(du)遺址對于中國古代橋梁史的研究具有極為重(zhong)要的價(jia)值。
蒲(pu)(pu)州(zhou)(zhou)古城則是唐開元(yuan)九年(公元(yuan)721年)所(suo)(suo)封中(zhong)都(dou)的所(suo)(suo)在地(di),以后金、元(yuan)、明(ming)(ming)、清各(ge)朝均有重修。唐代(dai)蒲(pu)(pu)州(zhou)(zhou)城(外城)周(zhou)(zhou)長約(yue)5700米(mi),明(ming)(ming)代(dai)蒲(pu)(pu)州(zhou)(zhou)城(內(nei)城)周(zhou)(zhou)長約(yue)5400米(mi)。明(ming)(ming)代(dai)蒲(pu)(pu)州(zhou)(zhou)城磚砌城墻(qiang)保存完好(hao),東、南、西(xi)、北(bei)四(si)座城門都(dou)保存較好(hao)。
四大鐵牛(niu)被譽為“世界之(zhi)最”,在考古學(xue)、橋梁建筑、冶(ye)煉(lian)鑄(zhu)造、水文地(di)質等學(xue)科領(ling)域,有著十分重(zhong)要的研(yan)究價值。
蒲州古(gu)城(cheng)因(yin)為保存較好(hao),在中國古(gu)代城(cheng)市發展史上(shang)占(zhan)有重要地位。