該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)北(bei)鄰泜河,三(san)面(mian)環崗(gang)(正南(nan)1.5公(gong)里(li)為(wei)(wei)木花崗(gang),東(dong)(dong)南(nan)1.5公(gong)里(li)為(wei)(wei)光泰崗(gang),西(xi)(xi)南(nan)2公(gong)里(li)為(wei)(wei)馬棚崗(gang)),依山傍水,地(di)勢險要,向為(wei)(wei)歷(li)代兵家(jia)必爭(zheng)之地(di)。各(ge)崗(gang)上密(mi)布戰國、漢(han)代古(gu)墓數千座。該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)近方形,西(xi)(xi)北(bei)部(bu)為(wei)(wei)斜角。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)全長共8017米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi):其(qi)中東(dong)(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)2225米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)1915米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)1451米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),北(bei)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)2426米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積4平方公(gong)里(li)。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)的南(nan)半部(bu)及南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)除部(bu)分地(di)段有不同程度的破壞外,大部(bu)分輪廓清晰,保(bao)(bao)存(cun)完好,占(zhan)總(zong)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)的五(wu)分之三(san),目前城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)平均殘高2—6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)不等,高處7米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),基(ji)寬16.5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),夯(hang)土筑(zhu)就。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)夯(hang)土層為(wei)(wei)10厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)左(zuo)右,每高60厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)鋪有一(yi)層栣(ren)木,栣(ren)木間距(ju)為(wei)(wei)30至60厘(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)不等,其(qi)作用相(xiang)當于現代建筑(zhu)的鋼筋(jin)。該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)共九門:東(dong)(dong)、西(xi)(xi)各(ge)三(san)門,南(nan)二門,北(bei)一(yi)門。城(cheng)(cheng)門寬約16.5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),護城(cheng)(cheng)河距(ju)城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)10米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),河寬18米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);中心宮殿建筑(zhu)區(qu)在城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)中北(bei)部(bu),南(nan)北(bei)寬300米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)長1400米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積42萬平方米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。柏人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng)址是(shi)我國保(bao)(bao)存(cun)較好的古(gu)代大城(cheng)(cheng)池之一(yi)。
據舊(jiu)志記載(zai):“春(chun)秋周襄王(wang)17年,衛侯(hou)毀滅邢、并于(yu)衛,遂屬衛。28年晉(jin)文(wen)公伐衛取邢,又(you)屬晉(jin)邑(yi),乃為(wei)(wei)柏(bo)人。”由此,柏(bo)人城(cheng)(cheng)似晉(jin)文(wen)公時所建(jian)。到(dao)戰國(guo),趙王(wang)遷元年又(you)予(yu)以重修。該城(cheng)(cheng)歷史久遠,相(xiang)傳此地是(shi)帝(di)堯建(jian)都的地方,在(zai)后(hou)來的一(yi)些史籍上(shang)曾說它是(shi)“柏(bo)人城(cheng)(cheng),堯之都也”。據北齊《顏(yan)氏家(jia)訓》記載(zai),在(zai)柏(bo)人城(cheng)(cheng)西門(men)內有一(yi)漢桓(huan)帝(di)時柏(bo)人縣民為(wei)(wei)縣令徐整(zheng)碑,石碑上(shang)銘文(wen)曰:“山有巏嵍,王(wang)喬(qiao)所仙。”《全唐詩(shi)話》中還(huan)有馬郁贈給韓定辭的一(yi)首詩(shi):“邃林(lin)芳草(cao)綿綿思,盡日(ri)相(xiang)攜陟(zhi)麗(li)譙。別后(hou)宣務(wu)山上(shang)望,羨(xian)君時復(fu)見(jian)王(wang)喬(qiao)。”可見(jian)這里是(shi)傳說中的柏(bo)人令王(wang)子(zi)喬(qiao)駕鶴升天之地。
據隆堯(yao)(yao)縣(xian)(xian)1999年修訂出版的(de)《唐(tang)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)志(zhi)(zhi)》(注(zhu):金(jin)太宗完(wan)顏晟時期,隆堯(yao)(yao)稱(cheng)唐(tang)山(shan))記(ji):《帝(di)王世紀(ji)(ji)》、《城(cheng)(cheng)冢記(ji)》、《大明一統(tong)志(zhi)(zhi)》皆云:“柏(bo)仁(人(ren))城(cheng)(cheng),堯(yao)(yao)封唐(tang)侯(hou)(hou)所都(dou)之(zhi)地”,《唐(tang)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)志(zhi)(zhi)》記(ji)柏(bo)人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng):“春(chun)秋襄王十七年,紀(ji)(ji)侯(hou)(hou)毀于(yu)(yu)邢,并于(yu)(yu)紀(ji)(ji),遂屬(shu)紀(ji)(ji)。”“二十八年晉(jin)(jin)文公伐紀(ji)(ji)取(qu)邢,又屬(shu)晉(jin)(jin)邑(yi),乃(nai)為(wei)柏(bo)人(ren)。”
柏(bo)人城周圍崗(gang)上遍(bian)布戰(zhan)國(guo)及漢代(dai)古墓,該城歷(li)年出(chu)土遺(yi)物有(you)陶器、瓷器、金屬器等,代(dai)表(biao)器物有(you)該城在戰(zhan)國(guo)時(shi)期(qi)所鑄(zhu)“白人”刀幣和刻有(you)“柏(bo)人”的銘文戈。當時(shi)趙國(guo)只有(you)邯鄲和柏(bo)人兩地鑄(zhu)造錢幣,足見當時(shi)柏(bo)人城歷(li)史地位(wei)之重要(yao)。
柏人(ren)城(cheng)由夯(hang)土建筑,北鄰泜(zhī)水,三面(mian)環崗,依山(shan)傍水,形勢險(xian)要,向來為歷代兵(bing)家所(suo)看重。邢(xing)臺通(tong)史(shi)上“邢(xing)地(di)春秋古(gu)城(cheng)遺址”一節,記載了(le)“柏人(ren)城(cheng)系(xi)晉文公時(shi)(shi)(shi)初建”。戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)國時(shi)(shi)(shi)期(qi),柏人(ren)城(cheng)已發展成為北方趙(zhao)國的(de)一個比較(jiao)繁榮昌盛的(de)軍(jun)事重鎮,那時(shi)(shi)(shi)候人(ren)口聚居,經濟得到大發展。這里遺有(you)商周(zhou)時(shi)(shi)(shi)期(qi)的(de)陶(tao)窯和大量陶(tao)器,城(cheng)四周(zhou)有(you)眾多(duo)戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)國及漢代古(gu)墓,從墓葬中曾(ceng)經挖掘出不少陶(tao)罐(guan)銅鏡,銅帶(dai)勾(gou)、青(qing)銅劍、鐵劍以及戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)國時(shi)(shi)(shi)期(qi)的(de)錯金銅帶(dai)勾(gou)玉璧、瑪瑙飾件(jian)等(deng)。近年,在柏人(ren)城(cheng)址還發現(xian)了(le)戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)國時(shi)(shi)(shi)流行的(de)銅質“刀幣(bi)(bi)”,刀幣(bi)(bi)上鑄(zhu)有(you)“白(通(tong)柏)人(ren)”字樣。據專家考證,當時(shi)(shi)(shi)趙(zhao)國只有(you)邯鄲和柏人(ren)兩(liang)個地(di)方鑄(zhu)銅錢。這是戰(zhan)(zhan)(zhan)國時(shi)(shi)(shi)柏人(ren)城(cheng)經濟繁榮、商業(ye)發達的(de)重要標志。
古柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)一(yi)帶,歷史上曾(ceng)發生(sheng)過數次戰爭。據史料記(ji)載(zai):公元(yuan)前491年(nian),晉(jin)(jin)卿(qing)趙(zhao)(zhao)氏(shi)與中(zhong)(zhong)行(xing)氏(shi)、范氏(shi)等(deng)發生(sheng)內戰,中(zhong)(zhong)行(xing)文(wen)子曾(ceng)逃至柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren),趙(zhao)(zhao)簡子遂(sui)圍柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)。漢(han)(han)高(gao)祖(zu)8年(nian)(公元(yuan)前199年(nian)),劉邦過柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren),怕被人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)行(xing)刺,未(wei)留宿西去,使趙(zhao)(zhao)相貫(guan)高(gao)等(deng)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)的陰(yin)謀未(wei)能得逞。公元(yuan)24年(nian),后(hou)漢(han)(han)光武(wu)帝劉秀創業時,曾(ceng)在(zai)(zai)柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)城(cheng)外大敗王郎(lang)大獎李育。柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)城(cheng)成為漢(han)(han)武(wu)帝在(zai)(zai)河北一(yi)帶的重(zhong)要軍事堡壘。西晉(jin)(jin)末年(nian),羯族(zu)(匈奴(nu)的一(yi)個分支(zhi))人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)石勒率(lv)兵(bing)襲(xi)晉(jin)(jin)將王浚占領柏(bo)人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)城(cheng),大破(po)晉(jin)(jin)軍。此役為爾后(hou)石勒在(zai)(zai)古襄國(邢臺市)稱(cheng)帝奠定(ding)了基礎。
西漢時(shi)柏(bo)人城為縣(xian)級行政首府,北魏時(shi)曾易名“柏(bo)仁(ren)”城。唐天(tian)寶元年(nian)(nian)(742年(nian)(nian)),因(yin)遭水患,城被水淹,縣(xian)治東遷堯城鎮,遂更(geng)名為堯山縣(xian),歷(li)時(shi)948年(nian)(nian)的(de)古柏(bo)仁(ren)城廢,始稱亦城。時(shi)隔千余載,古柏(bo)城雖廢,但它(ta)的(de)遺(yi)跡猶(you)存,昔日(ri)古城垣依稀可見,眾多(duo)出土文物(wu)仍指點人們去追溯古城的(de)歷(li)史足跡。