從地(di)理位(wei)(wei)置看,在歷史上地(di)處(chu)唐代西(xi)(xi)域絲綢之路北(bei)(bei)路的(de)(de)中(zhong)段(duan),其東(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)與阿(a)(a)拉(la)山口遙遙相(xiang)望,可(ke)(ke)通(tong)哈薩克斯坦(tan)、俄(e)羅斯及中(zhong)國境(jing)內的(de)(de)塔(ta)城(cheng)(cheng)、阿(a)(a)爾泰,西(xi)(xi)南(nan)可(ke)(ke)逾金山、本嶺沿賽里木湖(hu)穿果子溝(gou)可(ke)(ke)通(tong)月城(cheng)(cheng)和伊犁河,直達中(zhong)亞,戰略地(di)位(wei)(wei)非常重(zhong)(zhong)要,為(wei)兵家必爭之地(di)。據初步勘察,現(xian)有(you)遺(yi)址(zhi)以干枯的(de)(de)河床(chuang)為(wei)界,分為(wei)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)部(bu)(bu)分。西(xi)(xi)部(bu)(bu)遺(yi)址(zhi)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)長(chang)約(yue)(yue)500米(mi)(mi),南(nan)北(bei)(bei)最(zui)寬處(chu)約(yue)(yue)400米(mi)(mi),總面(mian)積約(yue)(yue)19萬平方米(mi)(mi)。遺(yi)址(zhi)分內外(wai)兩(liang)重(zhong)(zhong)城(cheng)(cheng),外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)墻(qiang)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)長(chang)約(yue)(yue)450米(mi)(mi),土夯(hang)筑(zhu),每層厚(hou)10—12厘米(mi)(mi)不等。墻(qiang)基寬約(yue)(yue)3米(mi)(mi),殘存最(zui)高(gao)處(chu)約(yue)(yue)3米(mi)(mi),中(zhong)段(duan)有(you)一段(duan)寬5米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)缺(que)口,可(ke)(ke)能是外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)。南(nan)墻(qiang)外(wai)約(yue)(yue)50米(mi)(mi)處(chu),有(you)一條(tiao)寬約(yue)(yue)20米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)河,自西(xi)(xi)向(xiang)東(dong)(dong),與遺(yi)址(zhi)東(dong)(dong)側的(de)(de)河流相(xiang)通(tong)。城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)偏(pian)東(dong)(dong)殘有(you)一處(chu)土坯砌臺形建(jian)筑(zhu),可(ke)(ke)能是了望臺或窗樓。西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)大部(bu)(bu)分坍塌成破狀。僅北(bei)(bei)部(bu)(bu)墻(qiang)存一段(duan)約(yue)(yue)30米(mi)(mi)長(chang),不足一米(mi)(mi)高(gao)的(de)(de)殘垣。西(xi)(xi)墻(qiang)外(wai)偏(pian)南(nan)有(you)火燒的(de)(de)痕(hen)跡,是宋軍做飯(fan)的(de)(de)地(di)方。內城(cheng)(cheng)位(wei)(wei)于(yu)遺(yi)址(zhi)北(bei)(bei)部(bu)(bu)偏(pian)西(xi)(xi),每邊長(chang)約(yue)(yue)80米(mi)(mi),四(si)再基本對著東(dong)(dong)、南(nan)、西(xi)(xi)、北(bei)(bei)四(si)個方向(xiang)。結構與外(wai)城(cheng)(cheng)相(xiang)同。城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)殘高(gao)約(yue)(yue)3—5米(mi)(mi)。西(xi)(xi)北(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)瀕臨河岸,南(nan)北(bei)(bei)墻(qiang)可(ke)(ke)見(jian)馬(ma)面(mian)遺(yi)址(zhi),城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)為(wei)東(dong)(dong)北(bei)(bei)向(xiang),甕城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)痕(hen)跡依(yi)稀可(ke)(ke)見(jian)。
東部(bu)(bu)遺(yi)址沿(yan)河岸布局(ju),長約1000米(mi),寬約300米(mi),這部(bu)(bu)分遺(yi)址現(xian)基(ji)本成(cheng)為現(xian)代居民(min)區(qu)(qu)。遺(yi)址偏南地(di)方僅有三間(jian)房(fang)屋建筑。遺(yi)址北側是基(ji)葬區(qu)(qu)。1987年5月當地(di)居民(min)建房(fang)時,掘十數(shu)副人首(shou),金(jin)幣(bi)數(shu)十枚。
河(he)床(chuang)西岸遺址(zhi),西半部三面環水,城墻矗立,友鄰據(ju)于河(he)岸高(gao)地(di)。地(di)表(biao)散布(bu)大量(liang)夾砂紅陶(tao)片,陶(tao)片組合(he)以大型甕類器物為(wei)多。東豐部則地(di)勢平坦,相對較,遺址(zhi)環河(he)岸布(bu)局,不(bu)見城垣,地(di)表(biao)散布(bu)大量(liang)灰(hui)陶(tao)先,紅胎采由陶(tao)片、醬色來由碗碟瓷的殘片,以燈罐類為(wei)多。出土有金、銀、銅(tong)(tong)帶、銅(tong)(tong)統、銅(tong)(tong)盒、銅(tong)(tong)爐等(deng)文物。金幣最(zui)(zui)(zui)大重(zhong)(zhong)10.5克(ke)(ke),最(zui)(zui)(zui)小重(zhong)(zhong)5.1克(ke)(ke)。其中一枚正面中央(yang)第(di)一行有地(di)名(ming)“阿(a)力(li)瑪里(li)”,下面是“除了(le)皮拉外別元它神,穆罕(han)默得(de)是使(shi)者”。銀幣最(zui)(zui)(zui)大重(zhong)(zhong)2.3克(ke)(ke),銅(tong)(tong)幣最(zui)(zui)(zui)大重(zhong)(zhong)2.4克(ke)(ke)。
根據出土文物和(he)文物上(shang)的銘文以及錢幣資料專家初(chu)步認(ren)為該古城東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)西(xi)(xi)部分屬兩個不同的歷史時期。河(he)西(xi)(xi)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)較早,可是(shi)唐代遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),有(you)人認(ren)為是(shi)唐代雙(shuang)河(he)都督(du)府都在地(di)。河(he)東(dong)(dong)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)較晚(wan),可能(neng)是(shi)西(xi)(xi)遼(liao)舒建,其下限(xian)可見(jian)到明代初(chu)期。也有(you)的學者認(ren)為東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)本是(shi)一(yi)座城,由于河(he)流改造沖刷形成(cheng)兩部分,建于西(xi)(xi)遼(liao),廢(fei)于元末明初(chu),有(you)待進步考證。
對上(shang)述古城,1985年8月博樂市人民政(zheng)府發出通(tong)知,決定作為文物保護單位,采取(qu)必要(yao)措(cuo)施(shi)進行保護。
古城(cheng)遺址把(ba)我們帶(dai)到了(le)駝鈴搖曳、歲(sui)月悠(you)悠(you)的遠古時代。不過古人說,以史(shi)(shi)為鑒可知興云,了(le)解一(yi)下博爾塔拉悠(you)遠的歷史(shi)(shi),發(fa)掘它深厚的文(wen)化底(di)蘊(yun)也是很有意(yi)義的。