芋(yu)頭侗寨(zhai)(zhai)在行政區劃上隸屬于雙江鄉。明(ming)洪武年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1368~1398年(nian)(nian)(nian))建寨(zhai)(zhai);明(ming)嘉靖三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1508年(nian)(nian)(nian))戶增人(ren)旺(wang),建筑規模擴大,形成村落;清順治年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1644~1661年(nian)(nian)(nian))遭(zao)火災,復(fu)建后(hou)形成以芋(yu)頭溪流為(wei)軸線向兩側(ce)分叉布(bu)置(zhi)的7個聚落群;清乾隆四(si)十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1777年(nian)(nian)(nian))建寨(zhai)(zhai)腳橋(qiao)及(ji)龍氏鼓(gu)樓(lou)、牙上鼓(gu)樓(lou);清嘉慶(qing)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1800年(nian)(nian)(nian))建塘頭橋(qiao)。清光(guang)緒7年(nian)(nian)(nian)建塘坪橋(qiao)。
清(qing)(qing)道光(guang)、光(guang)緒(xu)年(nian)間分別維修(xiu)驛道和牙(ya)上(shang)鼓(gu)樓。明洪武元年(nian)至三十一(yi)年(nian)(1368-1398)間始建寨;嘉(jia)靖三年(nian)(1508)戶增人旺(wang),建筑規模擴大,形成(cheng)村落。清(qing)(qing)順治年(nian)間遭火災,復建后(hou)形成(cheng)以(yi)芋頭(tou)溪流為軸線(xian)向兩邊分叉座落的7個聚(ju)居群。清(qing)(qing)乾隆四十二年(nian)(1777)建寨腳橋及(ji)龍(long)氏鼓(gu)樓,牙(ya)上(shang)鼓(gu)樓。清(qing)(qing)嘉(jia)慶五年(nian)(1800)建中步和塘坪橋。清(qing)(qing)道光(guang)、光(guang)緒(xu)年(nian)間分別維修(xiu)驛道和牙(ya)上(shang)鼓(gu)樓。芋頭(tou)侗(dong)寨古(gu)(gu)建筑群因山(shan)就(jiu)勢,結構造型(xing)具有典型(xing)的侗(dong)族(zu)風格,鼓(gu)樓、門(men)樓、蘆笙場、古(gu)(gu)井、涼亭、薩歲壇、古(gu)(gu)墓葬群、侗(dong)族(zu)樓層(ceng)及(ji)青石板驛道等一(yi)應俱(ju)全,且(qie)保存完好,有很高的歷史、人文及(ji)藝術價。
芋(yu)頭侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai),從建(jian)(jian)寨(zhai)(zhai)選址,布置建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物,到(dao)規劃村寨(zhai)(zhai)于周圍環境的(de)協(xie)調及人(ren)們衣(yi)食住(zhu)行、祭祀(si),都(dou)(dou)是傳(chuan)統堪輿學說在侗(dong)(dong)民(min)(min)族(zu)(zu)地區現實(shi)生活中(zhong)的(de)運用(yong)。寨(zhai)(zhai)內各類(lei)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)因(yin)地制(zhi)宜,依(yi)山(shan)勢,順(shun)風水分別布置建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物,將自然風光與人(ren)為創造結(jie)成(cheng)天、地、人(ren)三位一體,充分展示了侗(dong)(dong)民(min)(min)族(zu)(zu)的(de)古樸(pu)憨厚和(he)聰明(ming)才智。芋(yu)頭侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)屬于典(dian)型的(de)山(shan)地溝谷侗(dong)(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)山(shan)脊型和(he)山(shan)谷型建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)模式。寨(zhai)(zhai)內所保存的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),無論(lun)是從整體到(dao)局(ju)部,還是從布局(ju)到(dao)工(gong)藝,都(dou)(dou)融匯(hui)了侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)(zu)工(gong)藝的(de)傳(chuan)統和(he)山(shan)里人(ren)的(de)樸(pu)實(shi)風格,全面反映了侗(dong)(dong)族(zu)(zu)的(de)民(min)(min)族(zu)(zu)史和(he)民(min)(min)俗史。
芋(yu)頭(tou)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)寨古建(jian)(jian)筑群因山(shan)(shan)就勢,結(jie)構造型(xing)具有典型(xing)的侗(dong)(dong)(dong)族風(feng)格,鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、門(men)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、蘆笙(sheng)場、古井(jing)、涼亭、薩歲(sui)壇(tan)、古墓葬群、侗(dong)(dong)(dong)族樓(lou)(lou)(lou)屋及(ji)青石板驛道等一應俱全,其(qi)中古樓(lou)(lou)(lou)4座(zuo),風(feng)雨橋3座(zuo),門(men)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)1座(zuo),古井(jing)2口,薩歲(sui)壇(tan)2個(ge)(ge),吊腳樓(lou)(lou)(lou)居室78棟,古驛道1.6公里(li)。芋(yu)頭(tou)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)寨的建(jian)(jian)筑屬于(yu)(yu)(yu)典型(xing)的山(shan)(shan)地(di)溝(gou)谷(gu)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)寨山(shan)(shan)脊(ji)型(xing)和山(shan)(shan)谷(gu)型(xing)建(jian)(jian)筑模(mo)式(shi)(shi)。寨內(nei)(nei)民居采(cai)用(yong)“桿欄式(shi)(shi)”建(jian)(jian)筑為(wei)(wei)多(duo)。有的采(cai)用(yong)架立的吊腳樓(lou)(lou)(lou)式(shi)(shi),以適應南(nan)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)區(qu)氣(qi)候濕潤,多(duo)蚊蟲的特點。屋頂懸(xuan)山(shan)(shan)式(shi)(shi),施(shi)小青瓦或覆蓋杉皮,使得(de)建(jian)(jian)筑物(wu)色彩樸(pu)實,質感宜(yi)人。芋(yu)頭(tou)侗(dong)(dong)(dong)寨始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)(yu)明洪(hong)武年(nian)間,后遭大(da)火,寨內(nei)(nei)現有建(jian)(jian)筑大(da)部(bu)分為(wei)(wei)清中期、末期的建(jian)(jian)筑。村寨現有鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)4個(ge)(ge):寨中鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)簡樸(pu)地(di)立于(yu)(yu)(yu)田(tian)中;龍氏(shi)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)昂(ang)然立于(yu)(yu)(yu)山(shan)(shan)上最(zui)高處;蘆笙(sheng)鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)雕梁畫棟漂亮,為(wei)(wei)九層(ceng)(ceng)密檐攢尖蘆笙(sheng)頂木樓(lou)(lou)(lou),下(xia)五層(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)四角(jiao)(jiao),上四層(ceng)(ceng)為(wei)(wei)八(ba)角(jiao)(jiao),翹檐上下(xia)都塑(su)有龍鳳花(hua)鳥圖(tu)案(an),金(jin)光閃亮;牙上鼓(gu)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)較為(wei)(wei)奇險(xian),一半(ban)搭在山(shan)(shan)坡上,一半(ban)懸(xuan)于(yu)(yu)(yu)山(shan)(shan)坡下(xia),由(you)17根梨(li)木柱(zhu)子支撐(cheng),最(zui)長的一根有9.1米(mi)高。