麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)城始建(jian)于(yu)唐代(dai)(dai)(dai)開元(yuan)十二(er)年(公元(yuan)724),廢棄(qi)于(yu)明代(dai)(dai)(dai)正(zheng)統八年(公元(yuan)1443),歷時719年。五代(dai)(dai)(dai)麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)刺史(shi)楊(yang)(yang)宏信及其(qi)(qi)長子楊(yang)(yang)重(zhong)勛和(he)其(qi)(qi)孫(sun)楊(yang)(yang)光(guang),世代(dai)(dai)(dai)守衛(wei)著麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou),抵(di)御契丹(dan)、西夏守衛(wei)國土(tu)。而楊(yang)(yang)宏信的次子楊(yang)(yang)業和(he)其(qi)(qi)孫(sun)楊(yang)(yang)延昭均為宋代(dai)(dai)(dai)名將,在(zai)山西朔(shuo)州(zhou)(zhou)北距契丹(dan),稱(cheng)(cheng)雄一方。由于(yu)麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)故(gu)城與楊(yang)(yang)家將的淵源(yuan)關系,后(hou)代(dai)(dai)(dai)人們懷著對楊(yang)(yang)氏英雄的崇敬(jing)心情,將此城稱(cheng)(cheng)為楊(yang)(yang)家城,延續至今。
2005年榆(yu)林市考古所在(zai)西城(cheng)西關還發掘了一處遺址,被稱(cheng)為刺(ci)史府。
2009年7月(yue)到10月(yue),陜西省考(kao)古研究院與榆(yu)林市考(kao)古隊(dui)對麟州故(gu)城遺址進行了考(kao)古調查(cha)、勘探(tan)與測繪。
麟州城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址北鄰草地溝(gou),西鄰窟野河,東接桃峁梁,南(nan)與麻堰溝(gou)接壤,高差(cha)約200米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址呈不規(gui)則(ze)長(chang)條形。整個城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址由(you)3座(zuo)小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)組成,分別為東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。從考古人員航拍(pai)圖中(zhong)可以看到,三座(zuo)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong),紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的中(zhong)間,由(you)東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)護衛著,而東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)要么(me)臨溝(gou)壑,要么(me)靠山城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻護衛,倚仗(zhang)高山、溝(gou)壑這些天然屏障,麟州城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)已經呈現易守難攻之勢。
據(ju)陜(shan)西省考古研究院肖健一(yi)介(jie)紹,整個城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)面(mian)積約為1.12平方(fang)公(gong)(gong)里,城(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長約5.4公(gong)(gong)里。東城(cheng)(cheng)、西城(cheng)(cheng)和紫(zi)錦城(cheng)(cheng),三個小城(cheng)(cheng)既相(xiang)互聯(lian)系又相(xiang)對獨立。東城(cheng)(cheng)有(you)一(yi)門(men)可(ke)以(yi)(yi)進(jin)入,西城(cheng)(cheng)沒(mei)有(you)門(men),雖然(ran)可(ke)以(yi)(yi)通過兩個門(men)進(jin)入紫(zi)錦城(cheng)(cheng),然(ran)而(er)想要不被守城(cheng)(cheng)官兵發(fa)現很難。肖健一(yi)解(jie)釋說,以(yi)(yi)紫(zi)錦城(cheng)(cheng)為例,如果(guo)想要從東城(cheng)(cheng)南門(men)進(jin)入,門(men)口的城(cheng)(cheng)墻設(she)有(you)馬面(mian),馬面(mian)上的守城(cheng)(cheng)者可(ke)清楚看到(dao)入侵者,即使進(jin)了城(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)形成甕(weng)中捉鱉(bie)之(zhi)勢,相(xiang)信入侵者也難以(yi)(yi)再進(jin)入下一(yi)關,而(er)此(ci)時也無法撤退出城(cheng)(cheng)。
三(san)座小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是互通的,如(ru)果有一座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)有入侵者進攻,其(qi)他兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)均(jun)可(ke)立(li)即派兵(bing)前(qian)往(wang)支援。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)防(fang)工事中(zhong)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)、馬面、角樓等均(jun)保留(liu)很好(hao),尤(you)其(qi)是位于城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)中(zhong)部(bu)的紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),有一殘存(cun)20米保存(cun)非常好(hao)的夯(hang)筑(zhu)墻(qiang)體,墻(qiang)體上部(bu)為麟州城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的高(gao)點(dian),估計可(ke)能為曾被很多名人詩句(ju)提到的紅(hong)樓遺(yi)址(zhi)。考古調(diao)查(cha)中(zhong)發(fa)(fa)現,東城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)有大量且密集的建(jian)筑(zhu)遺(yi)址(zhi),估計可(ke)能多為老百姓居住。西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)同樣發(fa)(fa)現有建(jian)筑(zhu)遺(yi)址(zhi),地面由磚(zhuan)鋪而成,估計當時的刺(ci)史府(fu)應(ying)該在此,而且西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)可(ke)能還有更高(gao)的軍事防(fang)御機關,但(dan)此次調(diao)查(cha)未能發(fa)(fa)現。
此(ci)次(ci)除(chu)對麟州(zhou)(zhou)故城(cheng)(cheng)本身(shen)進(jin)(jin)行了(le)(le)調(diao)(diao)查(cha)外,還(huan)對城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)背面殘存的(de)墩(dun)臺及東(dong)面、南面的(de)營堡進(jin)(jin)行了(le)(le)調(diao)(diao)查(cha),采集到了(le)(le)132件文(wen)物標(biao)本,發現各類遺(yi)(yi)跡(ji)現象95處,其中門(men)址(zhi)(zhi)10處、墩(dun)臺2處、馬面5處、角樓3處、夯土基址(zhi)(zhi)2處等。在調(diao)(diao)查(cha)勘探的(de)基礎上,對麟州(zhou)(zhou)故城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)周邊約10平方公里的(de)區域進(jin)(jin)行了(le)(le)航空遙感調(diao)(diao)查(cha),制(zhi)作了(le)(le)航空遙感影(ying)像(xiang)圖(tu),建立了(le)(le)數字高程模型,為制(zhi)定麟州(zhou)(zhou)故城(cheng)(cheng)文(wen)物保(bao)護(hu)規劃及有效保(bao)護(hu)這一珍(zhen)貴歷史文(wen)化(hua)遺(yi)(yi)存提供了(le)(le)科學、詳實的(de)資料和依據(ju)。同樣因(yin)為此(ci)次(ci)的(de)調(diao)(diao)查(cha),揭秘了(le)(le)麟州(zhou)(zhou)故城(cheng)(cheng)嚴密(mi)的(de)防(fang)御體系。
2006年5月國務院公布為第六批全國重(zhong)點文(wen)物(wu)保護(hu)單(dan)位。