芋(yu)頭侗寨在(zai)行(xing)政區劃(hua)上(shang)隸屬于雙江(jiang)鄉(xiang)。明洪武年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1368~1398年(nian)(nian))建(jian)寨;明嘉靖三年(nian)(nian)(1508年(nian)(nian))戶增人旺(wang),建(jian)筑(zhu)規模擴(kuo)大,形成(cheng)村落;清(qing)(qing)順治年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1644~1661年(nian)(nian))遭(zao)火災,復建(jian)后形成(cheng)以(yi)芋(yu)頭溪流為軸線向兩側分叉布置的7個聚(ju)落群(qun);清(qing)(qing)乾隆四十二年(nian)(nian)(1777年(nian)(nian))建(jian)寨腳(jiao)橋及龍氏鼓樓、牙上(shang)鼓樓;清(qing)(qing)嘉慶五年(nian)(nian)(1800年(nian)(nian))建(jian)塘頭橋。清(qing)(qing)光緒7年(nian)(nian)建(jian)塘坪橋。
清道(dao)(dao)光、光緒年(nian)間分別(bie)維修(xiu)驛道(dao)(dao)和(he)牙上鼓樓(lou)。明洪武元年(nian)至三十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(1368-1398)間始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)寨(zhai);嘉(jia)靖三年(nian)(1508)戶增人旺,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑規模擴大,形(xing)成村落。清順(shun)治(zhi)年(nian)間遭火災,復(fu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)后形(xing)成以芋(yu)(yu)頭(tou)溪(xi)流為軸線向(xiang)兩邊分叉座(zuo)落的7個(ge)聚居群(qun)。清乾隆四十(shi)二年(nian)(1777)建(jian)(jian)(jian)寨(zhai)腳橋(qiao)及龍氏鼓樓(lou),牙上鼓樓(lou)。清嘉(jia)慶五年(nian)(1800)建(jian)(jian)(jian)中步和(he)塘坪橋(qiao)。清道(dao)(dao)光、光緒年(nian)間分別(bie)維修(xiu)驛道(dao)(dao)和(he)牙上鼓樓(lou)。芋(yu)(yu)頭(tou)侗(dong)寨(zhai)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑群(qun)因山就勢,結構造型(xing)(xing)具有典型(xing)(xing)的侗(dong)族風格,鼓樓(lou)、門(men)樓(lou)、蘆笙(sheng)場、古(gu)井、涼亭、薩歲壇、古(gu)墓葬(zang)群(qun)、侗(dong)族樓(lou)層及青石板(ban)驛道(dao)(dao)等一(yi)應(ying)俱全(quan),且保存(cun)完好,有很高(gao)的歷史、人文及藝術價。
芋頭侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai),從建(jian)(jian)寨(zhai)(zhai)選(xuan)址,布(bu)置建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物,到(dao)規劃村寨(zhai)(zhai)于(yu)周(zhou)圍環境(jing)的(de)協調及(ji)人們衣食住行(xing)、祭祀,都是傳(chuan)(chuan)統堪輿學說(shuo)在侗(dong)(dong)民(min)族地(di)(di)區現(xian)實生活(huo)中(zhong)的(de)運用。寨(zhai)(zhai)內各類(lei)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)因地(di)(di)制宜,依山(shan)勢(shi),順(shun)風(feng)水分(fen)別布(bu)置建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物,將自然風(feng)光與人為創造結成天、地(di)(di)、人三位一體,充分(fen)展示了侗(dong)(dong)民(min)族的(de)古樸憨厚(hou)和聰明才智(zhi)。芋頭侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)屬于(yu)典型的(de)山(shan)地(di)(di)溝谷(gu)(gu)侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)山(shan)脊型和山(shan)谷(gu)(gu)型建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)模(mo)式。寨(zhai)(zhai)內所保(bao)存的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),無論(lun)是從整體到(dao)局部,還是從布(bu)局到(dao)工藝(yi)(yi),都融匯了侗(dong)(dong)族工藝(yi)(yi)的(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)統和山(shan)里人的(de)樸實風(feng)格,全(quan)面(mian)反映(ying)了侗(dong)(dong)族的(de)民(min)族史和民(min)俗史。
芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)古建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)群因山(shan)(shan)就勢(shi),結構造(zao)型(xing)具有典型(xing)的侗族(zu)風格,鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、門樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、蘆笙場(chang)、古井(jing)(jing)、涼亭、薩(sa)歲(sui)壇、古墓葬群、侗族(zu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)屋(wu)(wu)及青石板驛(yi)(yi)道等一應俱全,其(qi)中(zhong)古樓(lou)(lou)(lou)4座,風雨橋(qiao)3座,門樓(lou)(lou)(lou)1座,古井(jing)(jing)2口,薩(sa)歲(sui)壇2個(ge),吊腳(jiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)居(ju)室78棟,古驛(yi)(yi)道1.6公里。芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)的建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)屬(shu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)典型(xing)的山(shan)(shan)地(di)溝谷侗寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)山(shan)(shan)脊(ji)型(xing)和山(shan)(shan)谷型(xing)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)模(mo)式(shi)(shi)。寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)內民(min)居(ju)采(cai)用(yong)“桿欄(lan)式(shi)(shi)”建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)為(wei)多。有的采(cai)用(yong)架立的吊腳(jiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)式(shi)(shi),以適應南方山(shan)(shan)區氣候濕潤,多蚊(wen)蟲(chong)的特(te)點。屋(wu)(wu)頂(ding)懸山(shan)(shan)式(shi)(shi),施小(xiao)青瓦或覆蓋杉(shan)皮,使(shi)得建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物色彩樸(pu)實,質感宜人(ren)。芋頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)(yu)明洪武年間,后遭大(da)火(huo),寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)內現有建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)大(da)部(bu)分為(wei)清(qing)中(zhong)期(qi)、末(mo)期(qi)的建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。村寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)現有鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)4個(ge):寨(zhai)(zhai)(zhai)中(zhong)鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)簡(jian)樸(pu)地(di)立于(yu)(yu)(yu)田中(zhong);龍氏鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)昂然立于(yu)(yu)(yu)山(shan)(shan)上最高(gao)處;蘆笙鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)雕梁畫棟漂亮(liang),為(wei)九層(ceng)密檐攢尖(jian)蘆笙頂(ding)木(mu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou),下五層(ceng)為(wei)四角,上四層(ceng)為(wei)八角,翹檐上下都塑(su)有龍鳳花鳥圖案,金光(guang)閃亮(liang);牙上鼓樓(lou)(lou)(lou)較為(wei)奇險,一半搭在山(shan)(shan)坡(po)(po)上,一半懸于(yu)(yu)(yu)山(shan)(shan)坡(po)(po)下,由17根梨木(mu)柱子(zi)支撐,最長(chang)的一根有9.1米高(gao)。