代(dai)王城遺(yi)址(zhi)屬全國重點(dian)文物(wu)保護(hu)單(dan)位,位于河(he)北(bei)(bei)蔚縣城東(dong)(dong)(dong)20華里處的(de)(de)(de)代(dai)王城鎮政府所在地(di)(di)周圍,海(hai)拔高度908米,古城址(zhi)南(nan)40華里為(wei)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西橫亙的(de)(de)(de)恒(heng)山余脈(mo),正南(nan)有(you)的(de)(de)(de)“飛孤關隘(ai)”,地(di)(di)勢險要,成(cheng)為(wei)古城的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)道天(tian)然(ran)屏障,城址(zhi)北(bei)(bei)為(wei)淺山丘陵區,壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河(he)由西南(nan)向東(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)繞城流(liu)過。古代(dai)城就(jiu)建在壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河(he)盆地(di)(di)之中(zhong),城內有(you)金(jin)波泉、密河(he)二水,均(jun)向北(bei)(bei)流(liu)出城外,匯入壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河(he),城西部為(wei)鹽(yan)堿灘(tan)地(di)(di),東(dong)(dong)(dong)部城墻內外均(jun)為(wei)耕地(di)(di)。代(dai)王城、馬家寨、北(bei)(bei)門子、城墻碾四(si)村則坐落在古城遺(yi)址(zhi)之上。
據(ju)《史記·趙(zhao)(zhao)世家》記載(zai),“趙(zhao)(zhao)襄(xiang)子(zi)(zi)北登夏屋(今(jin)山西代(dai)縣草垛山)誘代(dai)王(wang),使廚入操銅以(yi)食代(dai)王(wang)及(ji)從者,行斟陰令宰人各以(yi)擊代(dai)王(wang)及(ji)從官,遂興兵(bing)平(ping)代(dai)地(蔚縣一(yi)帶)。封伯魯(趙(zhao)(zhao)襄(xiang)子(zi)(zi)兄)子(zi)(zi)為代(dai)成君”,《史記·秦始皇本紀》記載(zai),“秦王(wang)政(zheng)十(shi)年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前228年(nian))趙(zhao)(zhao)公(gong)(gong)子(zi)(zi)嘉率宗(zong)族數百(bai)人奔代(dai),自為代(dai)王(wang)。二十(shi)五年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前222年(nian))王(wang)賁滅燕,還攻(gong)代(dai),虜代(dai)嘉”。高祖六年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元201前年(nian))正月(yue)以(yi)云中、雁門、代(dai)郡五十(shi)三(san)縣為諸侯(hou)國(guo),立兄宜(yi)信侯(hou)喜為代(dai)王(wang),國(guo)都今(jin)代(dai)王(wang)城。
七年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)200年(nian))匈(xiong)奴攻(gong)代,代王(wang)喜(xi)棄國自刎。十年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)197年(nian))代相國陳(chen)希反,自立(li)為(wei)(wei)代王(wang),劫略(lve)代地,十一(yi)年(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)196年(nian))破陳(chen)希于(yu)當(dang)城(cheng)(cheng)(代王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)東定安(an)縣(xian)(xian)村)。正如明代蔚縣(xian)(xian)人尹耕在《代國考》中(zhong)所(suo)述:“山(常山)北之代,始(shi)之商(shang)湯,歷代國之故,齊桓之所(suo)服,趙(zhao)手冀斬并,成安(an)陽(yang)所(suo)封,公(gong)子嘉所(suo)奔;趙(zhao)歇陳(chen)余之所(suo)。夏說(shuo)之所(suo)守,劉喜(xi)之所(suo)棄,陳(chen)余所(suo)監,皆是,所(suo)謂蔚之廢(fei)城(cheng)(cheng)也”。古代城(cheng)(cheng)作為(wei)(wei)代國都邑,郡(jun)縣(xian)(xian)治所(suo),為(wei)(wei)當(dang)時的(de)政治、經(jing)濟(ji)、軍(jun)事、文化中(zhong)心。
代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址位于河北(bei)省蔚縣城(cheng)(cheng)東20華里(li)(10公里(li))處的(de)代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)鎮政府所(suo)在地周圍,根(gen)據實(shi)地調查和(he)代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)內所(suo)出(chu)土的(de)遺(yi)物分析(xi),代(dai)王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址為春(chun)秋(qiu)至漢代(dai)的(de)代(dai)國都城(cheng)(cheng)。
古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址以南(nan)5華(hua)里(li)為(wei)恒山(shan)余脈(mo),地勢險要。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址平面(mian)呈(cheng)橢圓形,四周城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣保(bao)存較好。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)西(xi)寬(kuan)3400米(mi)(mi),南(nan)北長2200米(mi)(mi),周長9265米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣高3~12米(mi)(mi),夯土板筑,墻基(ji)寬(kuan)10-12米(mi)(mi),在南(nan)墻有(you)馬面(mian)、角臺(tai)遺(yi)跡(ji)11處,9座城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)遺(yi)址尚依稀可辨(bian),分(fen)別為(wei):正南(nan)滎(ying)陽門(men),東(dong)南(nan)興(xing)隆門(men),正東(dong)寶源門(men),東(dong)北迎海門(men),正北富(fu)農門(men)、文(wen)(wen)勝(sheng)門(men),西(xi)北興(xing)圃門(men),正西(xi)鐘秀(xiu)門(men),西(xi)南(nan)崇德(de)門(men)。現(xian)(xian)(xian)均呈(cheng)豁(huo)口狀,但名稱沿用至今。在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內東(dong)南(nan)部為(wei)宮殿區,面(mian)積(ji)宏大,發現(xian)(xian)(xian)漢代大型夯土臺(tai)基(ji),這里(li)文(wen)(wen)化堆積(ji)厚(hou)達2米(mi)(mi),遺(yi)物(wu)十(shi)分(fen)豐富(fu),陶片(pian)以建筑材料多,生活日用陶器(qi)也占(zhan)一定數量,包含多種器(qi)形,個別器(qi)物(wu)上帶(dai)有(you)文(wen)(wen)字戳記,此(ci)外還夾雜著各類獸骨。在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外分(fen)布(bu)著眾多的漢代封土墓(mu),現(xian)(xian)(xian)存封土堆63座,均是當時王室(shi)墓(mu)葬。
2001年,代王(wang)城(cheng)遺址由國(guo)務(wu)院公布為(wei)第(di)五批全國(guo)重(zhong)(zhong)點(dian)文物(wu)保護單(dan)位。代王(wang)城(cheng)城(cheng)址為(wei)研(yan)究漢(han)(han)代城(cheng)市與中(zhong)國(guo)城(cheng)建史提供了重(zhong)(zhong)要的(de)實物(wu)資(zi)料(liao)。同(tong)時因其地處北方(fang),因而對于研(yan)究中(zhong)國(guo)北方(fang)少(shao)數(shu)民族與漢(han)(han)族文化交流也極為(wei)重(zhong)(zhong)要。