據(ju)《常德(de)地區志(zhi)·文(wen)物(wu)志(zhi)》載:"古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為(wei)(wei)(wei)大小(xiao)二城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),坐北(bei)朝(chao)南(nan)(nan)向,東(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)大城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),西(xi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),中間有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣相隔(ge)。大城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)長約700米(mi)(mi)(mi)、東(dong)西(xi)寬(kuan)約600米(mi)(mi)(mi);小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)寬(kuan)600米(mi)(mi)(mi),東(dong)西(xi)長約300米(mi)(mi)(mi)。兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總(zong)面積(ji)為(wei)(wei)(wei)54萬(wan)平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)(mi)。"殘存(cun)夯土垣高(gao)3-4米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)12-18米(mi)(mi)(mi)。東(dong)西(xi)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)均有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的四(si)角有(you)(you)瞭望臺,殘高(gao)7-8米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的四(si)周(zhou)有(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he),寬(kuan)約30米(mi)(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)內遍布(bu)漢(han)磚(zhuan)、漢(han)瓦、和漢(han)代陶(tao)器殘片。曾經有(you)(you)村民(min)挖出有(you)(you)銘文(wen)“漢(han)壽城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”字樣的古(gu)磚(zhuan)和陶(tao)器等。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外東(dong)南(nan)(nan)方向有(you)(you)較多(duo)漢(han)墓(mu),其中有(you)(you)的規(gui)模較大,傳說中的楚平(ping)王(wang)墓(mu)遺也在其中。據(ju)史(shi)料記載,索縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建于東(dong)漢(han),是(shi)湖(hu)南(nan)(nan)當今大且保(bao)存(cun)好(hao)的漢(han)代古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),1983年湖(hu)南(nan)(nan)省人民(min)政府(fu)公布(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)省級文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位,2013年5月3日(ri),國家文(wen)物(wu)局(ju)公布(bu)了第七批全國重點文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位,索縣(xian)漢(han)代古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)榜(bang)上有(you)(you)名。
索縣漢代古城(cheng)遺址(zhi)被列為(wei)省(sheng)級文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)單位以來,城(cheng)址(zhi)村(cun)歷(li)屆(jie)黨支(zhi)(zhi)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)、村(cun)委(wei)會(hui)在(zai)區文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)門(men)的(de)指導(dao)下,對遺址(zhi)采取了一(yi)系列保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)措施:以村(cun)委(wei)會(hui)為(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)體成(cheng)立了村(cun)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)領導(dao)小(xiao)組(zu),支(zhi)(zhi)部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)書記(ji)和村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)為(wei)第一(yi)責任(ren)人,居住在(zai)遺址(zhi)內的(de)4個村(cun)民(min)組(zu)長為(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要成(cheng)員,并把村(cun)支(zhi)(zhi)書、村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)的(de)手(shou)機(ji)設為(wei)舉報電話;配合(he)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)門(men)劃定了四周護(hu)(hu)(hu)城(cheng)河外(wai)圍50米(mi)以內為(wei)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)范(fan)圍,規(gui)定在(zai)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)范(fan)圍內不準(zhun)亂挖亂建(jian),不準(zhun)燒磚燒瓦,不準(zhun)在(zai)遺址(zhi)城(cheng)墻上(shang)新建(jian)住房(fang);不準(zhun)盜挖、倒賣(mai)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu),如發現文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)必須無條(tiao)件(jian)上(shang)交文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)(bu)(bu)(bu)門(men)。同(tong)時,村(cun)里(li)還(huan)活躍一(yi)支(zhi)(zhi)以離任(ren)村(cun)支(zhi)(zhi)書蘇煥(huan)清為(wei)骨干的(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)(hu)義務宣傳隊。
幾十(shi)年(nian)來(lai),城址村(cun)民特別是居(ju)(ju)住在遺址內的居(ju)(ju)民,大多自覺遵守文(wen)物(wu)保護的各項規定,對于(yu)個(ge)別亂挖亂建的行(xing)為,也被(bei)村(cun)里及(ji)時勸止(zhi)。2012年(nian)5月,一戶周姓村(cun)民在安(an)葬逝(shi)者(zhe)時,意外在遺址外圍(wei)挖到一座戰國古墓,發現數件珍貴文(wen)物(wu)。逝(shi)者(zhe)親(qin)屬想(xiang)借機擴大范圍(wei)繼續挖掘,遭到了一群村(cun)民的反(fan)對,其中一姓李的年(nian)輕村(cun)民及(ji)時向村(cun)委會報(bao)告(gao),挖掘被(bei)及(ji)時制止(zhi),文(wen)物(wu)無償(chang)上交。
如今,索(suo)縣漢代古城(cheng)遺(yi)址基本完好。現(xian)殘(can)存(cun)城(cheng)垣為粘土夯筑,城(cheng)垣殘(can)高3至4米、寬(kuan)12至18米。東(dong)、西、南、北4門依(yi)稀可見。城(cheng)四(si)角的瞭望臺,殘(can)高7至8米。四(si)周30米左右寬(kuan)的護城(cheng)河目前還(huan)能養(yang)魚。城(cheng)東(dong)崆嚨觀宇雖毀,但遺(yi)址尚存(cun),漢磚漢瓦,遍地皆是(shi)。
漢壽城邊野草春(chun),荒祠古墓對荊榛。
田中牧豎(shu)燒芻(chu)狗,陌上行人看石麟。
華表半空經霹靂,碑文才見滿埃(ai)塵。
不(bu)知何日(ri)東瀛變,此地(di)還(huan)成要路津(jin)。
——【唐】劉(liu)禹錫 《漢壽城(cheng)春望》
這是一(yi)千多年前,唐朝武德(de)年間劉(liu)禹錫(xi)被貶(bian)朗州(zhou)時,在古(gu)索城遺址,留下的(de)一(yi)首詩。這位朗州(zhou)司馬與古(gu)城寂寥的(de)背影。