從地(di)理位(wei)置看(kan),在歷史上地(di)處(chu)唐代(dai)西(xi)(xi)(xi)域絲綢之(zhi)路北(bei)(bei)(bei)路的(de)(de)(de)(de)中段,其東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)(bei)與(yu)阿(a)(a)拉山口遙(yao)遙(yao)相(xiang)望(wang),可(ke)(ke)(ke)通哈薩克斯坦、俄羅斯及中國境內的(de)(de)(de)(de)塔城(cheng)(cheng)、阿(a)(a)爾泰,西(xi)(xi)(xi)南(nan)(nan)可(ke)(ke)(ke)逾(yu)金山、本嶺沿賽里木湖(hu)穿果子溝可(ke)(ke)(ke)通月城(cheng)(cheng)和伊犁河,直達中亞,戰略地(di)位(wei)非常重(zhong)要,為(wei)兵家(jia)必爭之(zhi)地(di)。據(ju)初步勘察,現有(you)遺址(zhi)以(yi)干枯的(de)(de)(de)(de)河床為(wei)界(jie),分為(wei)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)(xi)兩部(bu)分。西(xi)(xi)(xi)部(bu)遺址(zhi)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)(xi)長約(yue)500米(mi)(mi),南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)最寬處(chu)約(yue)400米(mi)(mi),總面積約(yue)19萬平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)。遺址(zhi)分內外(wai)兩重(zhong)城(cheng)(cheng),外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)(xi)長約(yue)450米(mi)(mi),土(tu)夯筑,每層厚10—12厘(li)米(mi)(mi)不等。墻(qiang)(qiang)基寬約(yue)3米(mi)(mi),殘(can)存(cun)最高處(chu)約(yue)3米(mi)(mi),中段有(you)一段寬5米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)缺口,可(ke)(ke)(ke)能是外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)。南(nan)(nan)墻(qiang)(qiang)外(wai)約(yue)50米(mi)(mi)處(chu),有(you)一條(tiao)寬約(yue)20米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)護城(cheng)(cheng)河,自西(xi)(xi)(xi)向東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong),與(yu)遺址(zhi)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)側的(de)(de)(de)(de)河流相(xiang)通。城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)偏東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)殘(can)有(you)一處(chu)土(tu)坯(pi)砌(qi)臺形建筑,可(ke)(ke)(ke)能是了望(wang)臺或窗樓。西(xi)(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)大部(bu)分坍塌成(cheng)破(po)狀(zhuang)。僅北(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)墻(qiang)(qiang)存(cun)一段約(yue)30米(mi)(mi)長,不足一米(mi)(mi)高的(de)(de)(de)(de)殘(can)垣。西(xi)(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)(qiang)外(wai)偏南(nan)(nan)有(you)火燒的(de)(de)(de)(de)痕(hen)跡,是宋軍(jun)做飯(fan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang)。內城(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)于遺址(zhi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)部(bu)偏西(xi)(xi)(xi),每邊長約(yue)80米(mi)(mi),四(si)再(zai)基本對(dui)著東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)、南(nan)(nan)、西(xi)(xi)(xi)、北(bei)(bei)(bei)四(si)個方(fang)向。結構與(yu)外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)相(xiang)同。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)殘(can)高約(yue)3—5米(mi)(mi)。西(xi)(xi)(xi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)瀕臨河岸,南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)可(ke)(ke)(ke)見(jian)(jian)馬面遺址(zhi),城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)為(wei)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)(bei)向,甕城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)痕(hen)跡依(yi)稀可(ke)(ke)(ke)見(jian)(jian)。
東部遺(yi)(yi)址沿河岸布局,長約(yue)1000米,寬約(yue)300米,這部分(fen)遺(yi)(yi)址現基本成(cheng)為現代居民區(qu)。遺(yi)(yi)址偏南地(di)方僅(jin)有三間房(fang)屋建筑(zhu)。遺(yi)(yi)址北側是基葬區(qu)。1987年5月(yue)當地(di)居民建房(fang)時,掘十(shi)數副人(ren)首,金(jin)幣(bi)數十(shi)枚。
河床西(xi)岸(an)遺址,西(xi)半部三面(mian)環水,城墻矗立,友(you)鄰據于河岸(an)高地(di)。地(di)表(biao)散布(bu)(bu)大量夾砂(sha)紅陶(tao)片(pian)(pian),陶(tao)片(pian)(pian)組合(he)以(yi)大型(xing)甕類器物為多。東豐部則(ze)地(di)勢平坦,相對(dui)較,遺址環河岸(an)布(bu)(bu)局,不見城垣,地(di)表(biao)散布(bu)(bu)大量灰陶(tao)先(xian),紅胎(tai)采由陶(tao)片(pian)(pian)、醬色來由碗(wan)碟瓷的殘片(pian)(pian),以(yi)燈罐類為多。出土有(you)金、銀(yin)(yin)、銅(tong)(tong)帶(dai)、銅(tong)(tong)統、銅(tong)(tong)盒、銅(tong)(tong)爐(lu)等文物。金幣最(zui)大重10.5克(ke),最(zui)小重5.1克(ke)。其中(zhong)一枚(mei)正面(mian)中(zhong)央第一行有(you)地(di)名(ming)“阿力(li)瑪里”,下(xia)面(mian)是“除了(le)皮拉外別元(yuan)它(ta)神,穆(mu)罕默得是使(shi)者”。銀(yin)(yin)幣最(zui)大重2.3克(ke),銅(tong)(tong)幣最(zui)大重2.4克(ke)。
根(gen)據出土文(wen)物(wu)和文(wen)物(wu)上的(de)(de)銘文(wen)以及錢幣資料專家初(chu)步(bu)認(ren)為(wei)該古城東(dong)西西部分屬(shu)兩個不同的(de)(de)歷史(shi)時(shi)期。河(he)(he)西遺(yi)(yi)址較(jiao)早,可(ke)是(shi)唐代(dai)遺(yi)(yi)址,有(you)人認(ren)為(wei)是(shi)唐代(dai)雙河(he)(he)都(dou)(dou)督府都(dou)(dou)在地。河(he)(he)東(dong)遺(yi)(yi)址較(jiao)晚,可(ke)能是(shi)西遼(liao)舒(shu)建(jian),其下(xia)限(xian)可(ke)見到明(ming)代(dai)初(chu)期。也(ye)有(you)的(de)(de)學者認(ren)為(wei)東(dong)西本是(shi)一(yi)座城,由于河(he)(he)流(liu)改造沖刷(shua)形成兩部分,建(jian)于西遼(liao),廢(fei)于元末明(ming)初(chu),有(you)待進步(bu)考證。
對上述古城,1985年8月博樂市(shi)人民(min)政(zheng)府發出通知,決定作(zuo)為文物保(bao)護(hu)單位,采(cai)取必要措施進行保(bao)護(hu)。
古城遺址(zhi)把我(wo)們帶到了駝鈴搖曳、歲月悠悠的(de)遠(yuan)古時代。不過古人說,以史為鑒可(ke)知(zhi)興云,了解一下博爾塔拉悠遠(yuan)的(de)歷史,發(fa)掘它(ta)深厚的(de)文(wen)化底(di)蘊也是很有意義(yi)的(de)。