代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)屬全國重點文物保護(hu)單位,位于(yu)河北蔚縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)20華(hua)里(li)處(chu)的(de)代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)鎮政(zheng)府所在地周(zhou)圍(wei),海拔高度908米,古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)南(nan)40華(hua)里(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)西橫亙的(de)恒山(shan)余脈(mo),正南(nan)有的(de)“飛孤關隘”,地勢險要,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)一道天然屏(ping)障,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)北為(wei)(wei)(wei)淺山(shan)丘陵區,壺(hu)流河由西南(nan)向(xiang)東(dong)北繞城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)流過。古(gu)(gu)代(dai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)就建在壺(hu)流河盆地之(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內有金波泉、密河二水(shui),均向(xiang)北流出城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外(wai),匯(hui)入壺(hu)流河,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西部為(wei)(wei)(wei)鹽堿(jian)灘地,東(dong)部城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻內外(wai)均為(wei)(wei)(wei)耕地。代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、馬家寨、北門子、城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻碾四村(cun)則坐落在古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)之(zhi)(zhi)上。
據《史記·趙(zhao)世家》記載,“趙(zhao)襄子北登夏屋(今山西代(dai)縣草垛山)誘代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang),使廚入操銅以食代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang)及(ji)從者(zhe),行斟陰令宰人(ren)各以擊代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang)及(ji)從官,遂興兵平代(dai)地(di)(蔚縣一帶)。封伯(bo)魯(趙(zhao)襄子兄)子為(wei)代(dai)成君”,《史記·秦始皇本紀》記載,“秦王(wang)(wang)(wang)政十年(nian)(公元(yuan)前(qian)228年(nian))趙(zhao)公子嘉率宗族數百人(ren)奔代(dai),自為(wei)代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang)。二十五年(nian)(公元(yuan)前(qian)222年(nian))王(wang)(wang)(wang)賁滅燕,還攻代(dai),虜代(dai)嘉”。高祖六年(nian)(公元(yuan)201前(qian)年(nian))正月以云中、雁門(men)、代(dai)郡五十三縣為(wei)諸侯國,立兄宜信侯喜(xi)為(wei)代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang),國都今代(dai)王(wang)(wang)(wang)城。
七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)200年(nian)(nian)(nian))匈奴攻代(dai)(dai),代(dai)(dai)王喜(xi)棄(qi)國(guo)自(zi)刎。十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)197年(nian)(nian)(nian))代(dai)(dai)相國(guo)陳(chen)(chen)希反,自(zi)立(li)為代(dai)(dai)王,劫(jie)略代(dai)(dai)地,十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)196年(nian)(nian)(nian))破陳(chen)(chen)希于當城(cheng)(代(dai)(dai)王城(cheng)東(dong)定(ding)安(an)縣(xian)村)。正如明代(dai)(dai)蔚(yu)縣(xian)人尹(yin)耕在《代(dai)(dai)國(guo)考(kao)》中(zhong)所(suo)述(shu):“山(常山)北之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)代(dai)(dai),始(shi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)商湯,歷代(dai)(dai)國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)故,齊(qi)桓之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)服,趙(zhao)手冀斬并(bing),成安(an)陽(yang)所(suo)封(feng),公(gong)子嘉(jia)所(suo)奔;趙(zhao)歇(xie)陳(chen)(chen)余(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)。夏說之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)守,劉(liu)喜(xi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)棄(qi),陳(chen)(chen)余(yu)所(suo)監,皆(jie)是,所(suo)謂蔚(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)廢城(cheng)也”。古代(dai)(dai)城(cheng)作為代(dai)(dai)國(guo)都邑,郡(jun)縣(xian)治所(suo),為當時的政治、經濟(ji)、軍事、文化中(zhong)心。
代(dai)王城(cheng)遺(yi)址位于(yu)河北省蔚(yu)縣城(cheng)東20華里(10公里)處的代(dai)王城(cheng)鎮政府所在地周圍,根據實(shi)地調查和(he)代(dai)王城(cheng)內所出(chu)土的遺(yi)物分析,代(dai)王城(cheng)遺(yi)址為春秋(qiu)至漢代(dai)的代(dai)國都城(cheng)。
古(gu)城(cheng)址以(yi)南5華里(li)為恒(heng)山余脈,地勢險要。城(cheng)址平面呈橢(tuo)圓形(xing),四周(zhou)城(cheng)垣保(bao)存(cun)較好。城(cheng)東(dong)西(xi)(xi)寬(kuan)3400米(mi),南北(bei)長2200米(mi),周(zhou)長9265米(mi)。城(cheng)垣高3~12米(mi),夯土(tu)板(ban)筑,墻基寬(kuan)10-12米(mi),在(zai)南墻有(you)馬(ma)面、角臺遺跡11處,9座城(cheng)門(men)(men)(men)遺址尚依(yi)稀可辨,分(fen)別為:正(zheng)(zheng)南滎陽門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)南興(xing)隆門(men)(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)東(dong)寶源門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)北(bei)迎海門(men)(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)北(bei)富(fu)農門(men)(men)(men)、文勝(sheng)門(men)(men)(men),西(xi)(xi)北(bei)興(xing)圃門(men)(men)(men),正(zheng)(zheng)西(xi)(xi)鐘秀門(men)(men)(men),西(xi)(xi)南崇德門(men)(men)(men)。現均呈豁口狀,但名稱沿用(yong)至今。在(zai)城(cheng)內東(dong)南部(bu)為宮殿區,面積宏大,發現漢代(dai)大型夯土(tu)臺基,這里(li)文化堆積厚達2米(mi),遺物十分(fen)豐富(fu),陶(tao)片以(yi)建筑材料多(duo),生活日用(yong)陶(tao)器(qi)也(ye)占一定(ding)數(shu)量,包含多(duo)種器(qi)形(xing),個別器(qi)物上帶(dai)有(you)文字戳記,此外還夾雜(za)著各類獸骨。在(zai)城(cheng)外分(fen)布著眾多(duo)的漢代(dai)封土(tu)墓,現存(cun)封土(tu)堆63座,均是當時王室墓葬(zang)。
2001年,代(dai)王城遺址由國(guo)務院公布為第(di)五批全國(guo)重點(dian)文(wen)物(wu)保護單位。代(dai)王城城址為研究(jiu)漢代(dai)城市與中(zhong)國(guo)城建史(shi)提供了重要的實(shi)物(wu)資(zi)料。同(tong)時因(yin)其地處北方,因(yin)而對于研究(jiu)中(zhong)國(guo)北方少數民族(zu)與漢族(zu)文(wen)化交流也極為重要。