1987年當地文物考古工作者對(dui)該遺(yi)址(zhi)進行了調(diao)查。從(cong)航片上(shang)看,各種渠跡(ji)如干渠、斗(dou)渠、支渠、毛渠等俱全,呈樹枝狀展布,有各種渠跡(ji)100余處(chu)。在(zai)鎖(suo)陽城遺(yi)址(zhi)南側及東側遺(yi)留的(de)古渠遺(yi)跡(ji)比較清晰,今殘存古攔水壩址(zhi)一(yi)道(dao)長百(bai)余米(mi),還有一(yi)條底寬16米(mi)、口寬20米(mi)的(de)支渠。
1996年(nian),鎖陽城古渠道遺址歸入第四批全(quan)國重點文物保護單位。
2015年8月11日,在甘肅瓜(gua)州縣鎖陽城遺址周邊,一套(tao)完整的古代灌溉(gai)水(shui)利系統出土,其中(zhong)疏浚工程、攔(lan)水(shui)壩、干渠(qu)、支渠(qu)等仍然清晰(xi)可見。
鎖陽城遺址位于瓜州縣鎖陽城鎮,是集古城址、古河道、古寺院、古墓葬、古墾區等為一體的古文化遺存地,這里的(de)古代軍事防御(yu)系統(tong)和烽燧信息傳(chuan)遞系統(tong)是我國保存較為完好(hao)的(de)典型范本(ben)。鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)按(an)結構(gou)可分為內(nei)外兩(liang)城(cheng)(cheng),將內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)包(bao)圍,墻體高(gao)大;內(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)面(mian)積28萬平方米,城(cheng)(cheng)墻夯(hang)土版筑,底寬7.5米,頂寬4.6米,高(gao)10米,四角有(you)角墩,結構(gou)極(ji)其復(fu)雜;城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)留有(you)大量土臺、房屋及其它建(jian)筑物遺(yi)跡,陶片、銅幣隨處可見。
位于酒(jiu)泉市安西(xi)(xi)縣橋子(zi)鄉南(nan)(nan)壩村(cun)南(nan)(nan)7公里。亦稱(cheng)“瓜州古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”、“苦峪城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”。總面(mian)積(ji)80多萬(wan)平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)(mi),分(fen)內、外兩(liang)(liang)(liang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。內城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)呈長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)方(fang)形,東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)493.6米(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)457.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)516米(mi)(mi)(mi),北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)536米(mi)(mi)(mi),周長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)2102.9米(mi)(mi)(mi)。內城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)一墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)為宋(song)代增修,將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分(fen)為東(dong)、西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)部分(fen)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)夯筑,夯層厚(hou)0.1-0.14米(mi)(mi)(mi)。基寬(kuan)7.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)寬(kuan)4.6米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)10米(mi)(mi)(mi),面(mian)積(ji)28萬(wan)平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)(mi)。四面(mian)有(you)(you)(you)馬面(mian)24個,上(shang)(shang)筑敵臺(tai)(均已(yi)倒塌)。四角筑角墩,僅西(xi)(xi)北角墩保存完整,通(tong)高(gao)18米(mi)(mi)(mi),土坯砌筑,角墩下(xia)(xia)開東(dong)西(xi)(xi)向(xiang)拱券門。東(dong)、南(nan)(nan)、西(xi)(xi)、北有(you)(you)(you)5座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門,其中(zhong)北墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)門,門外筑甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)寬(kuan)12.6-32.4米(mi)(mi)(mi),進深22.4-30.2米(mi)(mi)(mi),甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚(hou)10米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)上(shang)(shang)、下(xia)(xia)堆積(ji)有(you)(you)(you)大量(liang)雷石。西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內有(you)(you)(you)圓形土臺(tai)26座,圍(wei)以土墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),系兵營遺跡(ji)。外城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)稱(cheng)“羅城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”,是(shi)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)道(dao)較內城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)低的環墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),里墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)基寬(kuan)4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)寬(kuan)2.8米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)3.2-4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),外墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)基寬(kuan)8-14米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂(ding)寬(kuan)3.2-4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)4.5-6.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),均夯筑。東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)正中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門和甕(weng)(weng)(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺跡(ji)。周圍(wei)散見大量(liang)唐“開元通(tong)寶”等貨幣、瓷片(pian)、圍(wei)棋子(zi)、磚瓦(wa)等,以及(ji)宋(song)、元、明(ming)、清瓷器(qi)、陶器(qi)殘(can)片(pian)。
鎖陽城遺址周邊的(de)古(gu)代農(nong)業(ye)灌溉系統,是(shi)目前國內保存完好的(de)漢(han)唐水利遺跡(ji)。這一古(gu)代農(nong)田灌溉系統在鎖陽城遺址方圓20公(gong)里(li)的(de)范圍內分布,且被完好保存著。
鎖(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)一帶的(de)古代(dai)(dai)農業灌溉(gai)系統主(zhu)要(yao)包括疏浚工(gong)程、攔水(shui)壩、干渠等(deng),其灌溉(gai)的(de)水(shui)源(yuan)地是(shi)疏勒(le)河上游的(de)水(shui)系。從航拍照片的(de)痕跡看,疏勒(le)河水(shui)系其中(zhong)一條(tiao)古河道流經鎖(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)側(ce)。而(er)且,疏勒(le)河在漢、魏晉、隋(sui)唐、西夏時期都是(shi)這一代(dai)(dai)州郡(jun)及其縣鄉的(de)主(zhu)要(yao)灌溉(gai)水(shui)源(yuan)。
據“唐朝斷碑(bei)”和《沙州都(dou)督府圖經》的記載(zai)以及現存地(di)面遺(yi)跡(ji)和考古勘探的情況(kuang)看,大約在漢晉時(shi)期(qi),鎖(suo)陽城一(yi)帶便開(kai)始了(le)農業生(sheng)產,這在一(yi)定程度上得益(yi)于這一(yi)水利(li)灌(guan)溉系統。
鎖陽(yang)城在漢代是敦煌郡冥安縣治(zhi)所,西晉為晉昌縣,隋(sui)為常樂(le)縣,唐為瓜(gua)州郡。后歷經(jing)戰亂,明王室閉關(guan)后遭(zao)廢棄。鎖陽(yang)城之名緣于清代民間,因城周(zhou)圍有諸(zhu)多味美甘(gan)甜(tian)的(de)鎖陽(yang),后人因物命名為鎖陽(yang)城。鎖陽(yang)城是絲(si)綢之路咽喉上的(de)一大(da)古城。
鎖陽城古渠道遺址(zhi)地(di)面(mian)遺存數(shu)量(liang)較多,對水利(li)史、建筑(zhu)史、農業史的研(yan)究,瓜州古代渠系網絡遺址(zhi)都(dou)具(ju)有重要價值。
在河西古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)政治(zhi)、經(jing)濟、文化及軍事諸方面曾起過(guo)非常(chang)重要的(de)(de)作用。古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)鎖陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)附(fu)近有一大片(pian)非常(chang)開闊的(de)(de)綠洲,是(shi)(shi)(shi)酒泉郡與(yu)西域聯系的(de)(de)紐帶。周圍(wei)有幾十處古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)、古(gu)(gu)(gu)墓、石(shi)窟、寺(si)廟。鎖陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)分內外兩城(cheng)(cheng),外城(cheng)(cheng)總面積80萬平(ping)方米,內城(cheng)(cheng)總面積28萬平(ping)方米。西北角墩高18米,上有敵(di)臺、擂臺等古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)軍事設施(shi)。鎖陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)具有我國保存完好的(de)(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)軍事防御系統和古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)農田(tian)水利灌溉系統。同時,也(ye)是(shi)(shi)(shi)古(gu)(gu)(gu)代(dai)沙(sha)漠(mo)化演(yan)進(jin)過(guo)程(cheng)創舉滄桑變化的(de)(de)典(dian)型標(biao)本,是(shi)(shi)(shi)中國西部古(gu)(gu)(gu)文化遺存和獨特自然景觀結合較為完美的(de)(de)旅游景點。
1992年,趙樸初先生在(zai)鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)參觀考察后(hou),為(wei)其保(bao)存的(de)(de)完(wan)好程度和深厚文化內涵所感動,欣然提筆(bi)寫下了“安西一(yi)路樹蔭(yin)蔭(yin),留(liu)得瓜州作別名;濟(ji)潤(run)焦枯生萬物,西來始識(shi)雪山(shan)尊(zun)”的(de)(de)佳句。在(zai)古(gu)代河(he)西地區的(de)(de)政治、文化、經濟(ji)、軍事活動中,鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)一(yi)直(zhi)是(shi)一(yi)個(ge)很特殊的(de)(de)地方。史(shi)料稱“鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)及其周圍分布的(de)(de)6處(chu)漢(han)唐古(gu)城(cheng),其形(xing)制之(zhi)復雜,年代之(zhi)久遠,保(bao)存之(zhi)完(wan)整,遺存之(zhi)豐(feng)富,為(wei)國內罕見。”