1987年當地文物考(kao)古(gu)工(gong)作者對該遺址(zhi)進行了調查(cha)。從航片上看,各種(zhong)渠(qu)跡如干渠(qu)、斗渠(qu)、支渠(qu)、毛渠(qu)等(deng)俱全,呈樹枝(zhi)狀展(zhan)布,有各種(zhong)渠(qu)跡100余處。在鎖(suo)陽(yang)城遺址(zhi)南(nan)側及東側遺留的古(gu)渠(qu)遺跡比較清晰,今殘存古(gu)攔水壩址(zhi)一(yi)(yi)道長百余米,還(huan)有一(yi)(yi)條(tiao)底寬(kuan)16米、口寬(kuan)20米的支渠(qu)。
1996年(nian),鎖陽城古(gu)渠(qu)道遺址歸入第四批全國重點文物保護單位。
2015年8月11日,在(zai)甘肅(su)瓜州(zhou)縣鎖陽城遺(yi)址(zhi)周邊,一套完整(zheng)的(de)古(gu)代灌溉水(shui)利系統出土,其中疏浚工程(cheng)、攔水(shui)壩、干渠、支渠等(deng)仍然清晰可見(jian)。
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(li)的(de)古代軍事防御系(xi)統和烽燧信息傳遞系(xi)統是我國保存較為完(wan)好(hao)的(de)典型范本。鎖陽城(cheng)按結構可分為內(nei)(nei)外兩城(cheng),將(jiang)內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)包圍,墻體高(gao)大;內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)面積(ji)28萬(wan)平(ping)方米,城(cheng)墻夯土(tu)版筑,底寬7.5米,頂寬4.6米,高(gao)10米,四角(jiao)有角(jiao)墩,結構極(ji)其(qi)復雜(za);城(cheng)內(nei)(nei)留有大量土(tu)臺、房(fang)屋及(ji)其(qi)它建筑物遺跡,陶片、銅(tong)幣隨處可見。
位(wei)于(yu)酒泉(quan)市安西(xi)縣橋子鄉南(nan)壩村南(nan)7公里。亦稱“瓜州(zhou)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”、“苦峪(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”。總面(mian)(mian)積(ji)80多萬平方米(mi)(mi)(mi),分內(nei)(nei)、外(wai)兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面(mian)(mian)呈(cheng)長方形,東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長493.6米(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長457.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長516米(mi)(mi)(mi),北(bei)(bei)(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)長536米(mi)(mi)(mi),周長2102.9米(mi)(mi)(mi)。內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中有一墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)為(wei)宋代(dai)增修(xiu),將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為(wei)東(dong)、西(xi)兩部分。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(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)(mian)積(ji)28萬平方米(mi)(mi)(mi)。四面(mian)(mian)有馬面(mian)(mian)24個(ge),上筑敵臺(均(jun)已倒塌(ta))。四角(jiao)筑角(jiao)墩(dun),僅西(xi)北(bei)(bei)(bei)角(jiao)墩(dun)保存完整,通高(gao)18米(mi)(mi)(mi),土(tu)坯砌筑,角(jiao)墩(dun)下(xia)開東(dong)西(xi)向拱券門(men)。東(dong)、南(nan)、西(xi)、北(bei)(bei)(bei)有5座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men),其中北(bei)(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)兩門(men),門(men)外(wai)筑甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)寬(kuan)12.6-32.4米(mi)(mi)(mi),進(jin)深22.4-30.2米(mi)(mi)(mi),甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)厚(hou)10米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)上、下(xia)堆積(ji)有大量(liang)雷石。西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)有圓形土(tu)臺26座,圍(wei)以土(tu)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),系兵營遺跡。外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)稱“羅城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”,是兩道(dao)較內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)低的環(huan)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),里墻(qiang)(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(wai)墻(qiang)(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(jun)夯筑。東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)正中有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)和(he)甕城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺跡。周圍(wei)散見大量(liang)唐“開元通寶”等貨幣(bi)、瓷(ci)片(pian)、圍(wei)棋子、磚瓦等,以及宋、元、明、清瓷(ci)器、陶器殘片(pian)。
鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)遺址周邊的古代農(nong)業(ye)灌(guan)溉(gai)系統,是(shi)目前國內(nei)(nei)保(bao)存完好(hao)(hao)的漢唐水利遺跡。這一古代農(nong)田灌(guan)溉(gai)系統在鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)遺址方圓20公里的范圍(wei)內(nei)(nei)分布,且被完好(hao)(hao)保(bao)存著。
鎖陽城一(yi)帶的古代(dai)農業灌溉系統主要包(bao)括疏浚(jun)工程(cheng)、攔(lan)水壩、干渠(qu)等,其灌溉的水源地是疏勒河(he)(he)上游的水系。從航拍照片的痕跡看(kan),疏勒河(he)(he)水系其中一(yi)條古河(he)(he)道(dao)流經鎖陽城東側。而(er)且(qie),疏勒河(he)(he)在(zai)漢、魏晉、隋唐、西夏時期都(dou)是這(zhe)一(yi)代(dai)州郡及(ji)其縣鄉的主要灌溉水源。
據“唐朝(chao)斷碑”和《沙州都督府圖經》的記載以及現存地面遺跡和考(kao)古勘探的情況看(kan),大約在漢晉時(shi)期,鎖陽城(cheng)一帶便開(kai)始了農業生產,這(zhe)在一定程(cheng)度上得(de)益(yi)于這(zhe)一水利灌(guan)溉系(xi)統。
鎖(suo)(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)在漢代是(shi)敦煌(huang)郡(jun)冥安縣(xian)治所,西晉為(wei)晉昌縣(xian),隋為(wei)常樂縣(xian),唐(tang)為(wei)瓜州(zhou)郡(jun)。后(hou)歷經戰亂(luan),明王室閉關后(hou)遭(zao)廢棄。鎖(suo)(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)之名緣于清代民(min)間,因城(cheng)(cheng)周圍(wei)有諸多味(wei)美(mei)甘甜的鎖(suo)(suo)陽,后(hou)人因物(wu)命名為(wei)鎖(suo)(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)。鎖(suo)(suo)陽城(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)絲綢之路咽喉(hou)上(shang)的一大古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)。
鎖陽(yang)城古渠道遺(yi)址地面(mian)遺(yi)存(cun)數(shu)量較多(duo),對水(shui)利史、建(jian)筑史、農業史的(de)研(yan)究,瓜州(zhou)古代(dai)渠系網(wang)絡遺(yi)址都具有(you)重要(yao)價值。
在河(he)西(xi)古(gu)(gu)代政治(zhi)、經濟、文(wen)化(hua)及(ji)軍事諸(zhu)方面(mian)(mian)曾起(qi)過(guo)(guo)非(fei)(fei)常重要的作(zuo)用。古(gu)(gu)代鎖(suo)陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)附近有(you)(you)一大片非(fei)(fei)常開(kai)闊的綠洲,是(shi)酒(jiu)泉郡(jun)與西(xi)域聯(lian)系的紐(niu)帶。周圍有(you)(you)幾(ji)十處古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)、古(gu)(gu)墓、石窟、寺廟。鎖(suo)陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)分內外(wai)兩城(cheng)(cheng),外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)總(zong)面(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)80萬(wan)平(ping)方米,內城(cheng)(cheng)總(zong)面(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)28萬(wan)平(ping)方米。西(xi)北角(jiao)墩高18米,上有(you)(you)敵臺、擂臺等古(gu)(gu)代軍事設施(shi)。鎖(suo)陽(yang)(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)具有(you)(you)我國保存完(wan)好的古(gu)(gu)代軍事防御系統(tong)和(he)古(gu)(gu)代農(nong)田水利(li)灌溉(gai)系統(tong)。同(tong)時,也(ye)是(shi)古(gu)(gu)代沙漠(mo)化(hua)演進過(guo)(guo)程(cheng)創舉(ju)滄桑變化(hua)的典型標本(ben),是(shi)中國西(xi)部古(gu)(gu)文(wen)化(hua)遺存和(he)獨特自然(ran)景觀結合(he)較為完(wan)美的旅(lv)游景點。
1992年,趙樸(pu)初先生(sheng)在鎖(suo)陽(yang)城參觀考察后,為其保存(cun)(cun)的(de)(de)完好(hao)程度(du)和深厚(hou)文化內涵所(suo)感動,欣然提筆寫(xie)下了“安(an)西一(yi)路樹蔭蔭,留得瓜州作別名;濟(ji)潤(run)焦(jiao)枯生(sheng)萬物,西來始識(shi)雪山尊(zun)”的(de)(de)佳句。在古代河西地(di)區的(de)(de)政治、文化、經濟(ji)、軍事活動中,鎖(suo)陽(yang)城一(yi)直(zhi)是一(yi)個很特殊(shu)的(de)(de)地(di)方。史料稱(cheng)“鎖(suo)陽(yang)城及其周圍分布的(de)(de)6處漢唐古城,其形制之復雜,年代之久遠,保存(cun)(cun)之完整,遺存(cun)(cun)之豐富,為國內罕見。”