據《漢(han)書·地理志》敦(dun)煌郡(jun)廣(guang)(guang)至(zhi)(zhi)縣條、《后(hou)漢(han)書·蓋熏傳》李賢注:“廣(guang)(guang)至(zhi)(zhi)故城,在今瓜(gua)州(zhou)常(chang)樂縣”。《重修肅(su)州(zhou)新志·安西衛》古跡條記(ji):“漢(han)廣(guang)(guang)至(zhi)(zhi)縣……。后(hou)魏(wei)(wei)置(zhi)敦(dun)煌、常(chang)樂二郡(jun)”、清陶(tao)保廉《辛(xin)卯侍行(xing)記(ji)》卷五廣(guang)(guang)至(zhi)(zhi)條記(ji):“北周(zhou)改大至(zhi)(zhi),唐改常(chang)樂”。等文(wen)獻記(ji)載,該(gai)城本漢(han)廣(guang)(guang)至(zhi)(zhi)縣。魏(wei)(wei)晉、隋(sui)唐沿舊城置(zhi)常(chang)樂縣。東漢(han)名(ming)宦蓋熏即出生該(gai)地,官至(zhi)(zhi)漢(han)陽太守(shou)。
破城(cheng)子(zi)遺址城(cheng)墻(qiang)為(wei)(wei)夯土(tu)版筑,底寬4.5—6米(mi),頂寬3.2米(mi),高4.8米(mi)—7.5米(mi),東(dong)西(xi)寬144.7米(mi),南(nan)北(bei)長(chang)250.6米(mi),總面(mian)積(ji)36261.82平方米(mi),開北(bei)門(men),門(men)外(wai)有城(cheng)。東(dong)、南(nan)、西(xi)墻(qiang)保(bao)存較好,北(bei)墻(qiang)60年代生產(chan)隊挖掘墊地破壞(huai)嚴重。東(dong)北(bei)角(jiao)墩立測繪坐標。城(cheng)內(nei)(nei)疊壓兩層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),厚0.76米(mi),內(nei)(nei)含房屋倒(dao)塌的(de)土(tu)塊(kuai)(kuai)、花紋(wen)(wen)磚、紅、灰泥陶(tao)(tao)(tao)片(pian)(pian)、黃釉瓷片(pian)(pian)、開元(yuan)通寶錢;中為(wei)(wei)流水(shui)沉積(ji)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),未擾亂,厚0.7米(mi);下為(wei)(wei)漢(han)文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),厚0.9—1.2米(mi),內(nei)(nei)含夾砂紅陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、繩紋(wen)(wen)、水(shui)波(bo)紋(wen)(wen)、垂帳紋(wen)(wen)、附加堆紋(wen)(wen)灰陶(tao)(tao)(tao)片(pian)(pian)、磚塊(kuai)(kuai)、獸骨、炭塊(kuai)(kuai)、紅燒土(tu)等(deng)。從文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)和沙流水(shui)沉積(ji)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)上(shang)、中、下疊壓關系、出土(tu)器物形制來看,上(shang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)唐文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)、下層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)漢(han)文化(hua)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng); 1968年至1970年,當地群眾在(zai)城(cheng)東(dong)墻(qiang)外(wai)挖防空洞發(fa)現磚室墓,出土(tu)繩紋(wen)(wen)大陶(tao)(tao)(tao)甕、水(shui)波(bo)紋(wen)(wen)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)罐、陶(tao)(tao)(tao)瓶、背(bei)壺、明器陶(tao)(tao)(tao)灶、陶(tao)(tao)(tao)紡輪、五銖錢、銅(tong)箭頭等(deng)。
甘肅省境內的全國重點文物保護單(dan)位