據(ju)(ju)《常德(de)地區(qu)志·文(wen)(wen)(wen)物志》載(zai):"古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分(fen)為(wei)(wei)大(da)小二城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),坐(zuo)北朝(chao)南(nan)向,東(dong)(dong)為(wei)(wei)大(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),西(xi)為(wei)(wei)小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),中(zhong)間有(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)相隔。大(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北長約(yue)(yue)700米(mi)、東(dong)(dong)西(xi)寬約(yue)(yue)600米(mi);小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北寬600米(mi),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)長約(yue)(yue)300米(mi)。兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總面(mian)積為(wei)(wei)54萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。"殘存夯(hang)土垣(yuan)高3-4米(mi),寬12-18米(mi)。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)南(nan)北均有(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的四角有(you)瞭望臺,殘高7-8米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的四周有(you)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he),寬約(yue)(yue)30米(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址內遍布漢(han)(han)磚(zhuan)、漢(han)(han)瓦、和漢(han)(han)代陶器殘片。曾經有(you)村民(min)挖出有(you)銘文(wen)(wen)(wen)“漢(han)(han)壽城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”字樣的古磚(zhuan)和陶器等。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外東(dong)(dong)南(nan)方(fang)向有(you)較多漢(han)(han)墓(mu),其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)有(you)的規模較大(da),傳說中(zhong)的楚平(ping)王(wang)墓(mu)遺也在其(qi)(qi)中(zhong)。據(ju)(ju)史料記載(zai),索縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建(jian)于東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han),是湖(hu)(hu)南(nan)當(dang)今大(da)且保(bao)存好的漢(han)(han)代古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),1983年(nian)湖(hu)(hu)南(nan)省人民(min)政(zheng)府公布為(wei)(wei)省級文(wen)(wen)(wen)物保(bao)護(hu)單位(wei),2013年(nian)5月3日,國家文(wen)(wen)(wen)物局公布了第七批全國重點文(wen)(wen)(wen)物保(bao)護(hu)單位(wei),索縣漢(han)(han)代古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址榜上(shang)有(you)名(ming)。
索縣漢(han)代古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址被(bei)列為(wei)省級文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)單位以來(lai),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址村(cun)歷(li)屆黨(dang)支(zhi)部(bu)、村(cun)委會在(zai)區(qu)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)部(bu)門的(de)指導(dao)下,對遺址采取了(le)一系列保(bao)(bao)護(hu)措(cuo)施:以村(cun)委會為(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)體成立(li)了(le)村(cun)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)領(ling)導(dao)小組(zu),支(zhi)部(bu)書(shu)記和村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)為(wei)第一責任(ren)人,居住(zhu)在(zai)遺址內的(de)4個村(cun)民組(zu)長(chang)為(wei)主(zhu)(zhu)要成員,并把村(cun)支(zhi)書(shu)、村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)的(de)手機(ji)設為(wei)舉報電話;配合文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)部(bu)門劃定了(le)四周(zhou)護(hu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河外圍50米以內為(wei)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)范圍,規定在(zai)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)范圍內不準(zhun)亂挖(wa)亂建(jian),不準(zhun)燒(shao)磚燒(shao)瓦,不準(zhun)在(zai)遺址城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻上新(xin)建(jian)住(zhu)房;不準(zhun)盜挖(wa)、倒賣文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu),如發(fa)現文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)必須(xu)無條件上交(jiao)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)管(guan)(guan)部(bu)門。同(tong)時,村(cun)里還(huan)活躍一支(zhi)以離任(ren)村(cun)支(zhi)書(shu)蘇煥清為(wei)骨干的(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)義務宣傳(chuan)隊。
幾十(shi)年來,城址(zhi)村(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)特別是(shi)居住在遺址(zhi)內的(de)居民(min)(min),大多(duo)自(zi)覺遵守文(wen)物(wu)保護的(de)各項規定,對于個別亂(luan)挖(wa)亂(luan)建的(de)行為,也(ye)被村(cun)(cun)里及(ji)時(shi)勸止(zhi)。2012年5月,一(yi)(yi)戶周姓村(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)在安(an)葬(zang)逝者時(shi),意外在遺址(zhi)外圍(wei)(wei)挖(wa)到(dao)一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)戰國古墓,發(fa)現數件珍(zhen)貴文(wen)物(wu)。逝者親屬想借機擴大范圍(wei)(wei)繼續挖(wa)掘(jue)(jue),遭到(dao)了(le)一(yi)(yi)群村(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)的(de)反(fan)對,其中一(yi)(yi)姓李的(de)年輕村(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)及(ji)時(shi)向村(cun)(cun)委會報告,挖(wa)掘(jue)(jue)被及(ji)時(shi)制止(zhi),文(wen)物(wu)無償(chang)上交。
如今,索縣(xian)漢(han)代(dai)古城遺(yi)址(zhi)基本完好。現殘(can)存城垣為粘(zhan)土夯(hang)筑,城垣殘(can)高3至4米(mi)、寬12至18米(mi)。東(dong)、西、南、北(bei)4門依稀可(ke)見。城四(si)角的瞭望臺,殘(can)高7至8米(mi)。四(si)周30米(mi)左右寬的護城河目前還(huan)能養魚(yu)。城東(dong)崆嚨觀宇雖(sui)毀,但遺(yi)址(zhi)尚存,漢(han)磚(zhuan)漢(han)瓦,遍(bian)地皆(jie)是(shi)。
漢壽城邊(bian)野草春(chun),荒祠(ci)古墓對荊榛。
田(tian)中牧豎燒芻狗,陌上行人看石麟。
華表半(ban)空經(jing)霹靂,碑文才見滿埃(ai)塵。
不知何日東瀛變(bian),此(ci)地還成要路津。
——【唐】劉禹錫(xi) 《漢壽城(cheng)春望》
這是一千多(duo)年(nian)(nian)前,唐朝武德(de)年(nian)(nian)間劉禹錫被貶朗(lang)州時(shi),在古索城遺址,留下的一首詩。這位朗(lang)州司馬與(yu)古城寂寥的背影。