1987年(nian)當(dang)地(di)文物考古工作(zuo)者(zhe)對該遺(yi)址(zhi)進(jin)行了調查。從航片上看(kan),各種渠(qu)(qu)跡如干渠(qu)(qu)、斗(dou)渠(qu)(qu)、支渠(qu)(qu)、毛(mao)渠(qu)(qu)等俱全,呈樹枝狀展布,有(you)各種渠(qu)(qu)跡100余處。在鎖陽城遺(yi)址(zhi)南(nan)側(ce)及東側(ce)遺(yi)留的古渠(qu)(qu)遺(yi)跡比(bi)較清晰,今殘存古攔(lan)水壩址(zhi)一道長百余米(mi),還有(you)一條(tiao)底(di)寬16米(mi)、口寬20米(mi)的支渠(qu)(qu)。
1996年,鎖陽城(cheng)古渠道(dao)遺(yi)址歸入第四批全國重(zhong)點文物保護單位(wei)。
2015年8月11日,在甘(gan)肅瓜州縣(xian)鎖陽城遺(yi)址周邊,一(yi)套完整的古代灌溉水(shui)利系統出土,其(qi)中疏浚(jun)工程、攔(lan)水(shui)壩、干渠(qu)、支(zhi)渠(qu)等仍(reng)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,這里的古代軍事防御系統和烽(feng)燧信息傳(chuan)遞系統是我國保存較為完好的典型范本。鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)按結(jie)(jie)構(gou)可(ke)分為內外兩城(cheng)(cheng),將內城(cheng)(cheng)包圍,墻體高大;內城(cheng)(cheng)面積28萬(wan)平方米(mi),城(cheng)(cheng)墻夯土(tu)版筑,底寬(kuan)7.5米(mi),頂寬(kuan)4.6米(mi),高10米(mi),四角(jiao)(jiao)有角(jiao)(jiao)墩,結(jie)(jie)構(gou)極其復雜;城(cheng)(cheng)內留有大量土(tu)臺、房(fang)屋及(ji)其它(ta)建筑物遺跡(ji),陶片、銅(tong)幣隨處可(ke)見。
位(wei)于(yu)酒(jiu)泉市(shi)安(an)西(xi)縣橋子(zi)鄉南(nan)壩村南(nan)7公里。亦稱“瓜州古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”、“苦峪(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”。總面積80多萬平方米(mi)(mi)(mi),分內(nei)(nei)、外兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平面呈長(chang)方形,東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)493.6米(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)457.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)516米(mi)(mi)(mi),北城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)長(chang)536米(mi)(mi)(mi),周(zhou)長(chang)2102.9米(mi)(mi)(mi)。內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)有(you)(you)一墻(qiang)(qiang)為(wei)宋(song)代增(zeng)修,將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為(wei)東(dong)、西(xi)兩部(bu)分。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)夯筑(zhu)(zhu),夯層厚0.1-0.14米(mi)(mi)(mi)。基(ji)寬(kuan)(kuan)7.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂寬(kuan)(kuan)4.6米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)(gao)10米(mi)(mi)(mi),面積28萬平方米(mi)(mi)(mi)。四面有(you)(you)馬面24個,上(shang)筑(zhu)(zhu)敵臺(均已(yi)倒塌)。四角筑(zhu)(zhu)角墩(dun),僅西(xi)北角墩(dun)保存完整,通高(gao)(gao)18米(mi)(mi)(mi),土(tu)坯砌筑(zhu)(zhu),角墩(dun)下(xia)開東(dong)西(xi)向拱券(quan)門(men)(men)。東(dong)、南(nan)、西(xi)、北有(you)(you)5座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men),其中(zhong)北墻(qiang)(qiang)兩門(men)(men),門(men)(men)外筑(zhu)(zhu)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)寬(kuan)(kuan)12.6-32.4米(mi)(mi)(mi),進深(shen)22.4-30.2米(mi)(mi)(mi),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)厚10米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)上(shang)、下(xia)堆積有(you)(you)大量(liang)雷石。西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)(nei)有(you)(you)圓形土(tu)臺26座,圍以(yi)土(tu)墻(qiang)(qiang),系兵營遺跡。外城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)稱“羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”,是兩道(dao)較(jiao)內(nei)(nei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)(qiang)低的(de)環墻(qiang)(qiang),里墻(qiang)(qiang)基(ji)寬(kuan)(kuan)4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂寬(kuan)(kuan)2.8米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)(gao)3.2-4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),外墻(qiang)(qiang)基(ji)寬(kuan)(kuan)8-14米(mi)(mi)(mi),頂寬(kuan)(kuan)3.2-4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)(gao)4.5-6.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),均夯筑(zhu)(zhu)。東(dong)墻(qiang)(qiang)正中(zhong)有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)和(he)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺跡。周(zhou)圍散見大量(liang)唐“開元(yuan)通寶”等(deng)貨幣、瓷片、圍棋(qi)子(zi)、磚瓦等(deng),以(yi)及宋(song)、元(yuan)、明、清瓷器、陶(tao)器殘(can)片。
鎖陽(yang)城遺址周邊(bian)的(de)古代(dai)農(nong)業灌溉系統(tong),是目前國(guo)內保存(cun)完好的(de)漢唐水利遺跡。這一古代(dai)農(nong)田(tian)灌溉系統(tong)在鎖陽(yang)城遺址方(fang)圓(yuan)20公里的(de)范圍內分布(bu),且被完好保存(cun)著(zhu)。
鎖陽(yang)城一帶的(de)古(gu)代(dai)農業灌溉系(xi)(xi)統主(zhu)要(yao)包(bao)括(kuo)疏浚工(gong)程、攔水壩、干渠(qu)等,其(qi)(qi)灌溉的(de)水源地是疏勒(le)(le)河(he)(he)上游的(de)水系(xi)(xi)。從航(hang)拍照片的(de)痕跡看,疏勒(le)(le)河(he)(he)水系(xi)(xi)其(qi)(qi)中一條(tiao)古(gu)河(he)(he)道(dao)流經鎖陽(yang)城東側。而且,疏勒(le)(le)河(he)(he)在漢、魏晉、隋唐、西夏時期都是這一代(dai)州郡及其(qi)(qi)縣鄉的(de)主(zhu)要(yao)灌溉水源。
據“唐朝斷(duan)碑”和《沙州都督府圖(tu)經》的(de)(de)記載以及(ji)現(xian)存(cun)地面遺(yi)跡和考古勘探的(de)(de)情況看,大約在漢晉時期,鎖陽(yang)城一帶便開始了農(nong)業生(sheng)產,這在一定程度上(shang)得益于這一水(shui)利灌溉系統。
鎖(suo)(suo)(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)在漢代是敦(dun)煌郡(jun)(jun)冥安縣治所,西晉(jin)為(wei)晉(jin)昌縣,隋為(wei)常(chang)樂縣,唐(tang)為(wei)瓜州郡(jun)(jun)。后(hou)歷經戰亂,明(ming)王室閉關(guan)后(hou)遭廢棄(qi)。鎖(suo)(suo)(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)(zhi)名(ming)緣(yuan)于清代民(min)間,因城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周圍有諸多味美甘甜的鎖(suo)(suo)(suo)陽(yang),后(hou)人因物命名(ming)為(wei)鎖(suo)(suo)(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。鎖(suo)(suo)(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是絲(si)綢之(zhi)(zhi)路咽喉上的一大(da)古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。
鎖(suo)陽城古渠道遺址地面遺存數量較(jiao)多,對水利史(shi)、建筑史(shi)、農(nong)業史(shi)的研(yan)究(jiu),瓜州古代(dai)渠系網(wang)絡遺址都(dou)具有(you)重(zhong)要價值。
在河西(xi)(xi)(xi)古(gu)(gu)(gu)代政治、經濟、文化(hua)(hua)及軍事諸(zhu)方面(mian)(mian)曾(ceng)起過非常重要的(de)(de)作用。古(gu)(gu)(gu)代鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)附(fu)近(jin)有(you)一大片非常開闊的(de)(de)綠(lv)洲(zhou),是酒泉郡(jun)與西(xi)(xi)(xi)域聯系(xi)的(de)(de)紐帶(dai)。周圍(wei)有(you)幾十處古(gu)(gu)(gu)城(cheng)、古(gu)(gu)(gu)墓、石(shi)窟、寺廟(miao)。鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)分內(nei)外兩城(cheng),外城(cheng)總面(mian)(mian)積80萬平(ping)方米(mi),內(nei)城(cheng)總面(mian)(mian)積28萬平(ping)方米(mi)。西(xi)(xi)(xi)北角墩高18米(mi),上有(you)敵臺、擂臺等古(gu)(gu)(gu)代軍事設施。鎖(suo)陽(yang)城(cheng)具有(you)我國(guo)保存(cun)完(wan)好的(de)(de)古(gu)(gu)(gu)代軍事防(fang)御系(xi)統和古(gu)(gu)(gu)代農田水利灌溉系(xi)統。同時,也是古(gu)(gu)(gu)代沙(sha)漠化(hua)(hua)演進過程創(chuang)舉滄桑變化(hua)(hua)的(de)(de)典型標本,是中國(guo)西(xi)(xi)(xi)部古(gu)(gu)(gu)文化(hua)(hua)遺存(cun)和獨特自然景(jing)觀(guan)結合較為完(wan)美的(de)(de)旅游(you)景(jing)點(dian)。
1992年,趙樸初先生(sheng)在(zai)鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)參觀考察后(hou),為其保存的(de)完(wan)好程(cheng)度(du)和(he)深(shen)厚文化(hua)內(nei)涵所感動,欣然(ran)提筆寫(xie)下了“安西一(yi)(yi)路樹蔭蔭,留得(de)瓜州作別(bie)名;濟(ji)(ji)潤焦枯生(sheng)萬物,西來始(shi)識雪(xue)山尊”的(de)佳句。在(zai)古代河(he)西地(di)區的(de)政治、文化(hua)、經濟(ji)(ji)、軍事(shi)活動中,鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)一(yi)(yi)直是一(yi)(yi)個很特殊的(de)地(di)方。史(shi)料稱“鎖陽(yang)城(cheng)及其周(zhou)圍分布的(de)6處漢唐古城(cheng),其形制之(zhi)復雜,年代之(zhi)久(jiu)遠,保存之(zhi)完(wan)整(zheng),遺存之(zhi)豐(feng)富,為國(guo)內(nei)罕見。”