據(ju)《常德(de)地(di)區志·文(wen)物(wu)(wu)志》載(zai):"古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為大(da)(da)小(xiao)二城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),坐(zuo)北(bei)(bei)(bei)朝南(nan)(nan)向,東(dong)(dong)為大(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),西(xi)(xi)為小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),中(zhong)間有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣相(xiang)隔(ge)。大(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)長約(yue)(yue)700米(mi)、東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)寬約(yue)(yue)600米(mi);小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)寬600米(mi),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)長約(yue)(yue)300米(mi)。兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總(zong)面積為54萬平(ping)方米(mi)。"殘存夯土垣高3-4米(mi),寬12-18米(mi)。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)均有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)四角(jiao)有瞭(liao)望臺(tai),殘高7-8米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)四周有護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬約(yue)(yue)30米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址內遍布(bu)漢(han)(han)磚、漢(han)(han)瓦、和漢(han)(han)代(dai)陶器(qi)殘片。曾經有村(cun)民(min)挖出有銘文(wen)“漢(han)(han)壽城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”字樣的(de)(de)古(gu)(gu)磚和陶器(qi)等。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)東(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)方向有較多漢(han)(han)墓(mu),其中(zhong)有的(de)(de)規模(mo)較大(da)(da),傳說中(zhong)的(de)(de)楚平(ping)王墓(mu)遺也在(zai)其中(zhong)。據(ju)史(shi)料記載(zai),索(suo)縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建(jian)于東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han),是湖南(nan)(nan)當今大(da)(da)且保(bao)存好的(de)(de)漢(han)(han)代(dai)古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),1983年(nian)湖南(nan)(nan)省人(ren)民(min)政府(fu)公布(bu)為省級(ji)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單位,2013年(nian)5月3日(ri),國家文(wen)物(wu)(wu)局公布(bu)了第七批(pi)全國重點文(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單位,索(suo)縣漢(han)(han)代(dai)古(gu)(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址榜(bang)上有名。
索(suo)縣漢(han)代古城(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)被列為(wei)(wei)省級文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)單位(wei)以(yi)來,城(cheng)址(zhi)村(cun)(cun)歷屆(jie)黨支(zhi)部(bu)(bu)、村(cun)(cun)委會在(zai)區文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)門的指導下,對遺(yi)址(zhi)采(cai)取(qu)了一系列保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)措施:以(yi)村(cun)(cun)委會為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)體成(cheng)立了村(cun)(cun)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)領導小組(zu),支(zhi)部(bu)(bu)書記和村(cun)(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)任為(wei)(wei)第一責任人,居(ju)住在(zai)遺(yi)址(zhi)內的4個村(cun)(cun)民組(zu)長為(wei)(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)要成(cheng)員,并把村(cun)(cun)支(zhi)書、村(cun)(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)任的手機設為(wei)(wei)舉(ju)報電話;配合文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)門劃定了四周護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)城(cheng)河外圍(wei)50米(mi)以(yi)內為(wei)(wei)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)范圍(wei),規定在(zai)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)范圍(wei)內不(bu)準亂(luan)挖亂(luan)建,不(bu)準燒(shao)磚燒(shao)瓦,不(bu)準在(zai)遺(yi)址(zhi)城(cheng)墻(qiang)上新(xin)建住房(fang);不(bu)準盜挖、倒賣(mai)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu),如發現(xian)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)必須(xu)無條件(jian)上交(jiao)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)門。同(tong)時,村(cun)(cun)里還活(huo)躍一支(zhi)以(yi)離任村(cun)(cun)支(zhi)書蘇煥清為(wei)(wei)骨干的文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)義務宣傳隊。
幾十年來(lai),城址村(cun)(cun)民(min)特別是居(ju)住在(zai)遺址內的居(ju)民(min),大多自覺遵守文(wen)物(wu)保護的各項規定,對于個別亂(luan)挖(wa)(wa)亂(luan)建(jian)的行(xing)為,也被(bei)村(cun)(cun)里及時(shi)(shi)勸(quan)止。2012年5月,一戶周姓村(cun)(cun)民(min)在(zai)安葬(zang)逝者時(shi)(shi),意(yi)外(wai)在(zai)遺址外(wai)圍挖(wa)(wa)到(dao)一座戰(zhan)國古墓(mu),發現(xian)數件珍貴文(wen)物(wu)。逝者親屬想借機擴大范圍繼續(xu)挖(wa)(wa)掘(jue),遭到(dao)了(le)一群村(cun)(cun)民(min)的反對,其中一姓李的年輕村(cun)(cun)民(min)及時(shi)(shi)向村(cun)(cun)委會報告,挖(wa)(wa)掘(jue)被(bei)及時(shi)(shi)制止,文(wen)物(wu)無償上交。
如今,索縣(xian)漢代古城(cheng)(cheng)遺址基(ji)本完(wan)好。現殘存城(cheng)(cheng)垣為粘土夯筑,城(cheng)(cheng)垣殘高(gao)3至4米(mi)、寬12至18米(mi)。東、西、南、北4門依(yi)稀可見。城(cheng)(cheng)四角的(de)瞭望(wang)臺,殘高(gao)7至8米(mi)。四周30米(mi)左右寬的(de)護城(cheng)(cheng)河目前(qian)還能養魚。城(cheng)(cheng)東崆嚨觀宇雖毀,但遺址尚存,漢磚(zhuan)漢瓦,遍地皆是(shi)。
漢壽(shou)城邊野草春,荒祠古墓對(dui)荊榛。
田中牧豎燒(shao)芻狗,陌上行人看石麟。
華表半空經霹靂,碑文才見滿埃塵(chen)。
不知何(he)日東瀛變,此地還(huan)成要路(lu)津。
——【唐】劉禹錫 《漢壽城春望》
這是一千多年(nian)前(qian),唐(tang)朝武德年(nian)間劉禹錫被貶(bian)朗州時,在古(gu)索城(cheng)遺(yi)址,留下的一首詩。這位朗州司馬與古(gu)城(cheng)寂寥的背影。