芋頭侗寨(zhai)在行政區劃上隸屬于(yu)雙江鄉(xiang)。明洪武年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1368~1398年(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)(jian)寨(zhai);明嘉(jia)靖(jing)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1508年(nian)(nian)(nian))戶增人旺,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑規模擴大,形(xing)成(cheng)村落(luo);清(qing)順治年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1644~1661年(nian)(nian)(nian))遭火災,復建(jian)(jian)(jian)后形(xing)成(cheng)以芋頭溪流為軸線向兩側分叉布置的7個聚落(luo)群;清(qing)乾隆四(si)十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1777年(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)(jian)寨(zhai)腳橋(qiao)及龍氏鼓樓(lou)、牙上鼓樓(lou);清(qing)嘉(jia)慶五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1800年(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)(jian)塘頭橋(qiao)。清(qing)光緒(xu)7年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)塘坪橋(qiao)。
清(qing)(qing)道光、光緒年(nian)(nian)間分別(bie)維修驛(yi)道和牙(ya)上鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)。明洪(hong)武元年(nian)(nian)至(zhi)三十一年(nian)(nian)(1368-1398)間始(shi)建寨;嘉靖三年(nian)(nian)(1508)戶增(zeng)人(ren)旺,建筑(zhu)規(gui)模擴大(da),形(xing)(xing)成村落。清(qing)(qing)順治年(nian)(nian)間遭火災,復建后形(xing)(xing)成以芋頭(tou)溪流(liu)為軸線向兩邊分叉座(zuo)落的(de)7個聚居(ju)群。清(qing)(qing)乾隆四十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1777)建寨腳橋及(ji)(ji)龍(long)氏鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou),牙(ya)上鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)。清(qing)(qing)嘉慶五年(nian)(nian)(1800)建中(zhong)步和塘坪(ping)橋。清(qing)(qing)道光、光緒年(nian)(nian)間分別(bie)維修驛(yi)道和牙(ya)上鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)。芋頭(tou)侗寨古(gu)(gu)建筑(zhu)群因(yin)山就(jiu)勢,結構造(zao)型具有典(dian)型的(de)侗族(zu)風格,鼓(gu)(gu)樓(lou)、門樓(lou)、蘆笙場、古(gu)(gu)井、涼亭、薩歲壇、古(gu)(gu)墓葬群、侗族(zu)樓(lou)層及(ji)(ji)青石板驛(yi)道等(deng)一應俱全(quan),且保(bao)存完好(hao),有很高的(de)歷史(shi)、人(ren)文(wen)及(ji)(ji)藝術價。
芋頭侗(dong)(dong)寨,從(cong)建(jian)寨選址,布(bu)置(zhi)建(jian)筑(zhu)物,到(dao)規劃村寨于(yu)周圍環境的(de)(de)(de)協調(diao)及人(ren)們衣食住(zhu)行、祭祀,都是傳統堪輿學說在侗(dong)(dong)民(min)族地(di)(di)區現實生活中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)運用。寨內各類建(jian)筑(zhu)因地(di)(di)制(zhi)宜,依(yi)山(shan)(shan)勢,順(shun)風(feng)水分別布(bu)置(zhi)建(jian)筑(zhu)物,將自然風(feng)光(guang)與(yu)人(ren)為(wei)創造結成天、地(di)(di)、人(ren)三(san)位一體(ti),充分展示(shi)了侗(dong)(dong)民(min)族的(de)(de)(de)古樸憨厚和(he)聰明(ming)才(cai)智。芋頭侗(dong)(dong)寨的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)屬(shu)于(yu)典型的(de)(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)地(di)(di)溝谷侗(dong)(dong)寨山(shan)(shan)脊型和(he)山(shan)(shan)谷型建(jian)筑(zhu)模式。寨內所保存的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑(zhu),無論是從(cong)整體(ti)到(dao)局部,還是從(cong)布(bu)局到(dao)工(gong)藝,都融匯了侗(dong)(dong)族工(gong)藝的(de)(de)(de)傳統和(he)山(shan)(shan)里人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)樸實風(feng)格,全面反映了侗(dong)(dong)族的(de)(de)(de)民(min)族史和(he)民(min)俗(su)史。
芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)古建(jian)筑(zhu)群(qun)因山(shan)(shan)就勢,結構造型(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)具有(you)典型(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)(de)侗族風格,鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)、門樓(lou)(lou)、蘆笙場、古井(jing)、涼亭、薩(sa)歲壇、古墓葬群(qun)、侗族樓(lou)(lou)屋(wu)及青石板驛道等一應(ying)俱全,其中古樓(lou)(lou)4座(zuo)(zuo),風雨橋3座(zuo)(zuo),門樓(lou)(lou)1座(zuo)(zuo),古井(jing)2口,薩(sa)歲壇2個,吊(diao)腳樓(lou)(lou)居(ju)室(shi)78棟,古驛道1.6公里。芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)屬(shu)于典型(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)的(de)(de)(de)山(shan)(shan)地溝谷(gu)侗寨(zhai)(zhai)山(shan)(shan)脊(ji)型(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)和山(shan)(shan)谷(gu)型(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)建(jian)筑(zhu)模式(shi)。寨(zhai)(zhai)內民居(ju)采(cai)用(yong)“桿欄式(shi)”建(jian)筑(zhu)為多。有(you)的(de)(de)(de)采(cai)用(yong)架立的(de)(de)(de)吊(diao)腳樓(lou)(lou)式(shi),以適應(ying)南方山(shan)(shan)區氣候濕潤,多蚊蟲的(de)(de)(de)特點。屋(wu)頂懸山(shan)(shan)式(shi),施小青瓦或覆(fu)蓋杉皮,使得(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)物(wu)色(se)彩(cai)樸實,質感(gan)宜(yi)人。芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)始建(jian)于明洪武年間,后遭大火,寨(zhai)(zhai)內現有(you)建(jian)筑(zhu)大部分(fen)為清中期(qi)(qi)、末期(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)。村寨(zhai)(zhai)現有(you)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)4個:寨(zhai)(zhai)中鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)簡(jian)樸地立于田中;龍(long)氏鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)昂然立于山(shan)(shan)上(shang)最(zui)高處;蘆笙鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)雕梁畫棟漂亮,為九(jiu)層(ceng)密檐(yan)攢(zan)尖蘆笙頂木樓(lou)(lou),下五層(ceng)為四角(jiao),上(shang)四層(ceng)為八角(jiao),翹檐(yan)上(shang)下都塑有(you)龍(long)鳳花鳥(niao)圖案,金光閃亮;牙上(shang)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)較為奇(qi)險(xian),一半(ban)搭(da)在(zai)山(shan)(shan)坡上(shang),一半(ban)懸于山(shan)(shan)坡下,由17根梨木柱子支撐,最(zui)長的(de)(de)(de)一根有(you)9.1米高。