遺(yi)址總面積約600萬平方米(mi)。甘(gan)泉(quan)宮(gong)興廢年代待考(kao)。現(xian)存(cun)(cun)遺(yi)跡有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)、大型建筑夯土臺基(ji)、陶窯等(deng)。南城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長1948米(mi),西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長890米(mi),北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長1950米(mi),東城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)長880米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)殘高不等(deng),周長約為5668米(mi),夯土筑成。在遺(yi)址中心(xin)區現(xian)存(cun)(cun)有(you)(you)西(xi)(xi)漢的(de)石熊、宋代的(de)石鼓各1件(jian)。附(fu)近發現(xian)有(you)(you)五角形(xing)陶水管道、各種陶質(zhi)建筑材料及(ji)生活用具等(deng)。
甘泉宮是富麗豪華宮殿群的總稱,涼武帝村一帶是甘泉宮的主體建筑所在,在此周圍還有許多附屬宮、觀、臺建筑,甘泉宮的規模僅次于長安未央宮,史書記載甘泉宮在漢武帝建元中增廣后“周回十九里一百二十步,有(you)宮十二臺十一”(《關中(zhong)記》)。兩千年前的(de)古宮殿(dian),沿至今天(tian),在遺(yi)址(zhi)上(shang)能見到(dao)的(de)是(shi)零散的(de)建筑(zhu)(zhu)臺基和(he)城墻殘跡,見到(dao)的(de)遺(yi)物主要是(shi)建筑(zhu)(zhu)材料,如(ru)鋪(pu)地磚(zhuan)、空心磚(zhuan)、子母磚(zhuan)、板瓦(wa)和(he)筒(tong)瓦(wa)。石(shi)(shi)刻有(you)漢代石(shi)(shi)熊(xiong)、宋代題(ti)記石(shi)(shi)鼓。這些文物,是(shi)研究古宮殿(dian)的(de)珍(zhen)貴實物資料。
據史(shi)書記(ji)載,甘泉宮(gong)(gong)(gong)所在地(di)(di)是“黃(huang)帝(di)以(yi)來(lai)祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)圜(yuan)邱之處”,是黃(huang)帝(di)升仙的(de)地(di)(di)方。又記(ji)“匈奴(nu)祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)處,本(ben)云陽(yang)甘泉山下,秦(qin)奪其地(di)(di)”。黃(huang)帝(di)祭(ji)(ji)祀(si)神靈,朝諸侯的(de)萬(wan)靈明庭就(jiu)在甘泉。秦(qin)代在此造林光宮(gong)(gong)(gong),漢代于其旁起甘泉宮(gong)(gong)(gong)。《史(shi)記(ji)·秦(qin)始皇(huang)本(ben)紀》:“二十(shi)七年,始皇(huang)巡(xun)隴西、北地(di)(di),出雞(ji)頭山,過回中。焉作信宮(gong)(gong)(gong)渭南,已(yi)更(geng)命信宮(gong)(gong)(gong)為極廟(miao),象天(tian)(tian)極。自(zi)極廟(miao)道(dao)通酈山(即“驪山”),作甘泉前殿。筑甬道(dao),自(zi)咸陽(yang)屬之。是歲,賜爵一級。治馳道(dao)。”《史(shi)記(ji)·孝武本(ben)紀》:“又作甘泉宮(gong)(gong)(gong),中為臺(tai)室(shi),畫(hua)天(tian)(tian)、地(di)(di)、泰一諸神,而置祭(ji)(ji)具以(yi)致天(tian)(tian)神。”《漢書·郊祀(si)志(zhi)》記(ji)載,武帝(di)因(yin)齊人李(li)少翁(weng)言(yan),“作甘泉宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺址,中為臺(tai)室(shi),畫(hua)天(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)泰一鬼神,而置祭(ji)(ji)具以(yi)祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)神。”這(zhe)些記(ji)述表明古(gu)代祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)神非常隆(long)重,他是傳說黃(huang)帝(di),秦(qin)、漢帝(di)王在甘泉宮(gong)(gong)(gong)的(de)重要(yao)活動(dong)之一。
古代重視(shi)甘(gan)泉宮(gong)遺(yi)址,秦、漢(han)兩朝在(zai)此(ci)營建(jian)宮(gong)室(shi),是(shi)因為(wei)甘(gan)泉一帶在(zai)古代以地勢險要聞名。范雎《戰(zhan)國策》中記述:“大王之國,北有(you)甘(gan)泉,谷口。”甘(gan)泉山是(shi)屏障咸陽(yang)的前哨(shao)。秦始(shi)皇(huang)為(wei)了防御侮,在(zai)甘(gan)泉宮(gong)遺(yi)址筑林(lin)光(guang)宮(gong),又從甘(gan)泉至內蒙(meng)九原(yuan)修直道(dao),以利軍備(bei)。甘(gan)泉宮(gong)遺(yi)址山高(gao)氣爽,是(shi)避暑(shu)勝地。而(er)秦始(shi)皇(huang)到(dao)甘(gan)泉林(lin)光(guang)宮(gong),不僅是(shi)為(wei)了避暑(shu),更(geng)有(you)威(wei)懾(she)匈奴的安邊作用。
西漢(han)(han)(han)時期(qi),甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺址(zhi)的規模僅次于長安未央宮(gong)(gong)(gong)。史書(shu)記(ji)載(zai)甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)在漢(han)(han)(han)武帝(di)建元(yuan)中增廣后(hou),“周回(hui)十(shi)(shi)(shi)九里(li)一(yi)百二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)步,有(you)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)十(shi)(shi)(shi)二(er)臺十(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)”(《關中記(ji)》)。另(ling)有(you)記(ji)載(zai)說甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺址(zhi)“宮(gong)(gong)(gong)殿樓觀略與建章相比,百官皆有(you)邸(di)舍”(《括地志》)。宮(gong)(gong)(gong)的宏偉壯觀由此可見(jian)了。《漢(han)(han)(han)書(shu)·郊祀志》記(ji)載(zai)漢(han)(han)(han)代皇(huang)帝(di)到甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong):“高(gao)祖時五(wu)來,文帝(di)二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六來,武帝(di)二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六來,武帝(di)七十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)來,宣帝(di)二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)來,初(chu)元(yuan)元(yuan)年(nian)以來亦二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)來。”《資治(zhi)通鑒》記(ji)載(zai),唐(tang)太宗李世民貞觀二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(646年(nian))曾到甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)。秦漢(han)(han)(han)下(xia)降至(zhi)唐(tang),帝(di)王們(men)往返于甘(gan)泉(quan)(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺址(zhi),是(shi)因為有(you)許多重大朝政決策(ce)安排在這里(li)進行,如朝見(jian)諸侯(hou),宴飧外(wai)國(guo)使臣等(deng),而防外(wai)侮,安邊(bian)始終是(shi)重要(yao)活動內(nei)容。
甘(gan)泉(quan)宮遺址當(dang)前地表(biao)保(bao)存多處大型夯土臺(tai)基、西(xi)(xi)城城墻、西(xi)(xi)城門(men)址、西(xi)(xi)漢石(shi)熊等(deng),歷(li)年來遺址本體及周圍發現多件石(shi)柱(zhu)礎、石(shi)砌散水(shui)(暫名)、空心磚、瓦(wa)當(dang)(文字瓦(wa)當(dang)有甘(gan)林、衛、長(chang)生未央、長(chang)生無極、櫻桃轉舍(she)等(deng),其他有饕餮紋半瓦(wa)當(dang)、素面半瓦(wa)當(dang)、葵紋、云氣紋瓦(wa)當(dang)多種)以(yi)及圓形(xing)、五(wu)角形(xing)陶質排水(shui)管道、外粗細繩紋、內大小麻點紋筒(tong)瓦(wa)、板(ban)瓦(wa)、五(wu)銖銅錢等(deng)遺物。
2015年,陜西考古研究院的專家(jia)完成了甘泉宮遺址(zhi)的勘探,發(fa)現圍(wei)繞一號、二號墩臺(tai)(通天臺(tai))分布的5處(chu)大型建筑遺址(zhi)以及多處(chu)遺跡(ji)現象(xiang),包含夯土基址(zhi)150處(chu)、柱礎(chu)石(shi)177個、石(shi)砌基址(zhi)6處(chu)、踩(cai)踏面4處(chu)、鵝(e)卵(luan)石(shi)散水3處(chu)等。
本次考(kao)古勘探,目的(de)(de)是界定甘(gan)泉宮遺址(zhi)的(de)(de)遠四至(zhi),了解外墻外遺址(zhi)的(de)(de)分布與內涵。通過調(diao)查(cha)確定了同時期遺跡(ji)12處,包含陶窯遺跡(ji)兩處、夯土(tu)墻遺跡(ji)一處、墓葬封土(tu)或建(jian)筑臺基(ji)42座。其(qi)地表殘存秦漢(han)時期陶片較(jiao)多(duo),目前觀察早可到秦末漢(han)初。
可喜的是外圍調查(cha)中,發現10余件陶器(qi)戳(chuo)印(yin)“云(yun)市”、“云(yun)亭”文字,進一步(bu)確證秦漢云(yun)陽縣城位于甘泉宮遺址附近。
漢武帝時修建的通天臺被(bei)確(que)認(ren)為眾多建筑(zhu)遺址圍繞的中心(xin)處(chu)一號(hao)、二號(hao)墩臺,根(gen)據對二號(hao)墩臺的考古工作,發現(xian)其(qi)為高(gao)約15米(mi)(mi)(mi)的三層夯土臺基結(jie)構。底(di)部(bu)(bu)(bu)平面長方形(xing)(xing)(xing),南(nan)北(bei)長74米(mi)(mi)(mi),東西(xi)殘(can)寬57米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)2米(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)4米(mi)(mi)(mi);中部(bu)(bu)(bu)近似(si)(si)方形(xing)(xing)(xing),南(nan)北(bei)長40米(mi)(mi)(mi),東西(xi)殘(can)寬36米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)6米(mi)(mi)(mi);頂(ding)部(bu)(bu)(bu)近似(si)(si)方形(xing)(xing)(xing),南(nan)北(bei)長21米(mi)(mi)(mi),東西(xi)殘(can)寬20米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)5米(mi)(mi)(mi)。
在二號墩臺(tai)(通(tong)(tong)天臺(tai))的三層臺(tai)基(ji)上,共發現柱礎(chu)石18處(chu),東側、北側發現曲尺(chi)形的石砌基(ji)址(zhi),給后人想象甚至重構漢武(wu)帝版“通(tong)(tong)天臺(tai)”提供了重要資(zi)料。