代王(wang)城(cheng)遺址(zhi)屬(shu)全國重(zhong)點文(wen)物(wu)保護單位(wei),位(wei)于(yu)河(he)(he)(he)北(bei)(bei)蔚(yu)縣城(cheng)東(dong)20華里(li)處的代王(wang)城(cheng)鎮(zhen)政府所在地(di)(di)周圍,海(hai)拔高(gao)度908米,古城(cheng)址(zhi)南(nan)40華里(li)為(wei)東(dong)西橫亙(gen)的恒山(shan)余脈,正南(nan)有(you)的“飛孤(gu)關隘”,地(di)(di)勢險(xian)要,成為(wei)古城(cheng)的一(yi)道天然(ran)屏障,城(cheng)址(zhi)北(bei)(bei)為(wei)淺(qian)山(shan)丘陵區,壺流(liu)(liu)河(he)(he)(he)由西南(nan)向(xiang)東(dong)北(bei)(bei)繞(rao)城(cheng)流(liu)(liu)過。古代城(cheng)就(jiu)建(jian)在壺流(liu)(liu)河(he)(he)(he)盆地(di)(di)之(zhi)中,城(cheng)內有(you)金波泉、密河(he)(he)(he)二(er)水,均向(xiang)北(bei)(bei)流(liu)(liu)出城(cheng)外(wai),匯入壺流(liu)(liu)河(he)(he)(he),城(cheng)西部為(wei)鹽堿灘地(di)(di),東(dong)部城(cheng)墻內外(wai)均為(wei)耕地(di)(di)。代王(wang)城(cheng)、馬(ma)家寨、北(bei)(bei)門子(zi)、城(cheng)墻碾四村則(ze)坐落在古城(cheng)遺址(zhi)之(zhi)上。
據(ju)《史記·趙(zhao)世家》記載,“趙(zhao)襄(xiang)子(zi)(zi)北登夏屋(wu)(今(jin)山(shan)西代(dai)縣(xian)草(cao)垛山(shan))誘代(dai)王(wang),使廚入(ru)操銅以食代(dai)王(wang)及從者,行斟陰令(ling)宰人各以擊代(dai)王(wang)及從官,遂興兵平代(dai)地(蔚縣(xian)一(yi)帶)。封伯魯(趙(zhao)襄(xiang)子(zi)(zi)兄)子(zi)(zi)為(wei)(wei)代(dai)成(cheng)君(jun)”,《史記·秦始皇本(ben)紀》記載,“秦王(wang)政(zheng)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)228年(nian)(nian))趙(zhao)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)嘉(jia)率宗族數百人奔代(dai),自(zi)為(wei)(wei)代(dai)王(wang)。二十(shi)五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)222年(nian)(nian))王(wang)賁滅燕,還(huan)攻(gong)代(dai),虜代(dai)嘉(jia)”。高祖六年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元201前(qian)(qian)年(nian)(nian))正月以云中、雁門、代(dai)郡(jun)五(wu)十(shi)三縣(xian)為(wei)(wei)諸(zhu)侯(hou)國,立兄宜(yi)信侯(hou)喜為(wei)(wei)代(dai)王(wang),國都今(jin)代(dai)王(wang)城。
七年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前200年(nian))匈奴攻代(dai)(dai),代(dai)(dai)王喜棄(qi)國(guo)(guo)自(zi)刎。十年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前197年(nian))代(dai)(dai)相國(guo)(guo)陳希反,自(zi)立為(wei)代(dai)(dai)王,劫(jie)略代(dai)(dai)地,十一年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前196年(nian))破陳希于當(dang)城(cheng)(cheng)(代(dai)(dai)王城(cheng)(cheng)東定安縣(xian)村)。正如明(ming)代(dai)(dai)蔚縣(xian)人(ren)尹耕在(zai)《代(dai)(dai)國(guo)(guo)考》中(zhong)所(suo)述:“山(常(chang)山)北之(zhi)(zhi)代(dai)(dai),始之(zhi)(zhi)商湯,歷代(dai)(dai)國(guo)(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)故,齊桓之(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)服,趙手(shou)冀斬并,成安陽所(suo)封,公(gong)子嘉(jia)所(suo)奔(ben);趙歇陳余之(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)。夏說之(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)守,劉喜之(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)棄(qi),陳余所(suo)監,皆(jie)是,所(suo)謂蔚之(zhi)(zhi)廢(fei)城(cheng)(cheng)也”。古(gu)代(dai)(dai)城(cheng)(cheng)作為(wei)代(dai)(dai)國(guo)(guo)都邑,郡縣(xian)治(zhi)所(suo),為(wei)當(dang)時的政治(zhi)、經(jing)濟(ji)、軍事、文化中(zhong)心。
代王(wang)(wang)城(cheng)遺址位于河北省蔚縣城(cheng)東20華里(10公里)處的代王(wang)(wang)城(cheng)鎮(zhen)政(zheng)府所在地(di)周圍,根據實地(di)調查(cha)和代王(wang)(wang)城(cheng)內所出土的遺物分析,代王(wang)(wang)城(cheng)遺址為春秋至漢代的代國都(dou)城(cheng)。
古城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)以南(nan)(nan)5華里(li)為恒山余脈,地勢險要(yao)。城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)平面(mian)(mian)呈橢圓形,四周城(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)保存較好(hao)。城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)寬(kuan)3400米(mi),南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)長2200米(mi),周長9265米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)高(gao)3~12米(mi),夯土(tu)板筑(zhu),墻基寬(kuan)10-12米(mi),在南(nan)(nan)墻有馬面(mian)(mian)、角臺遺(yi)跡11處,9座(zuo)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)遺(yi)址(zhi)(zhi)尚依稀(xi)可(ke)辨,分(fen)別(bie)為:正(zheng)(zheng)南(nan)(nan)滎陽門(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)興隆(long)門(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)寶(bao)源(yuan)門(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)迎(ying)海門(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)北(bei)(bei)富農(nong)門(men)(men)、文勝(sheng)門(men)(men),西(xi)北(bei)(bei)興圃門(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)西(xi)鐘秀(xiu)門(men)(men),西(xi)南(nan)(nan)崇德門(men)(men)。現(xian)均呈豁(huo)口狀,但名稱沿用至(zhi)今。在城(cheng)(cheng)內東(dong)(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)部為宮殿區,面(mian)(mian)積(ji)(ji)宏大(da),發現(xian)漢代大(da)型夯土(tu)臺基,這里(li)文化堆(dui)積(ji)(ji)厚達2米(mi),遺(yi)物(wu)(wu)十分(fen)豐富,陶(tao)片以建筑(zhu)材料(liao)多(duo),生活(huo)日用陶(tao)器也占一定(ding)數量,包含多(duo)種器形,個別(bie)器物(wu)(wu)上帶有文字戳記,此(ci)外還(huan)夾雜著各類獸(shou)骨。在城(cheng)(cheng)外分(fen)布著眾(zhong)多(duo)的漢代封土(tu)墓(mu),現(xian)存封土(tu)堆(dui)63座(zuo),均是當(dang)時王室墓(mu)葬。
2001年,代王城(cheng)遺址由國(guo)務院公布為第五批全(quan)國(guo)重點文物保(bao)護單位。代王城(cheng)城(cheng)址為研究(jiu)漢(han)代城(cheng)市與中國(guo)城(cheng)建史提(ti)供了重要(yao)的實(shi)物資料。同(tong)時(shi)因其地(di)處(chu)北方,因而對于研究(jiu)中國(guo)北方少數民(min)族(zu)與漢(han)族(zu)文化交流也極為重要(yao)。