遺址位(wei)于湖北(bei)(bei)省荊州市公安(an)縣獅子(zi)口(kou)鎮龍船(chuan)嘴村(cun)(cun)和(he)王家廠村(cun)(cun)交界處(chu)。GPS測定的(de)(de)地(di)理坐(zuo)標為N29°55′41.6″,E111°59′03.8″。南距(ju)(ju)洈水河約(yue)1KM,東北(bei)(bei)距(ju)(ju)公安(an)縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)約(yue)30KM。該遺址為一新(xin)石器時代城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址,平(ping)面(mian)略呈圓角梯(ti)形,南北(bei)(bei)長約(yue)480米(mi),東西(xi)寬330-430米(mi),面(mian)積約(yue)18萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi),距(ju)(ju)今5000多年。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)外有(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內高地(di)沈家大山一帶有(you)厚達2米(mi)以上(shang)的(de)(de)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東南100米(mi)外也發現一處(chu)小型遺址,文(wen)化(hua)(hua)層(ceng)厚1米(mi)以上(shang)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址范圍內采集有(you)大溪文(wen)化(hua)(hua)至石家河文(wen)化(hua)(hua)時期(qi)的(de)(de)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)遺物(wu)。
雞鳴城遺址對研究江漢地區遠古時代的社會發展水平、生態環境、聚落形態等方面都具有重要意義。2006年中華人民共(gong)和國(guo)國(guo)務院公(gong)布為第(di)六批全(quan)國(guo)重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位(wei)。
傳說有二(er)神夜間(jian)在此(ci)筑(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),商(shang)定雞(ji)叫(jiao)停(ting)工,本方土地在此(ci)作祟,假裝(zhuang)雞(ji)叫(jiao),二(er)神棄(qi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)而去,故名(ming)雞(ji)鳴城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址呈不規則橢圓形,東(dong)南和西(xi)南角有明顯的轉折。南北(bei)最大(da)距離約(yue)(yue)500M,東(dong)西(xi)約(yue)(yue)400M,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內面(mian)積(ji)約(yue)(yue)15萬平方米,總面(mian)積(ji)約(yue)(yue)21萬平方米。一條水渠和一條簡易公(gong)路橫貫城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址的北(bei)部,將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址分(fen)割(ge)成南北(bei)兩部分(fen),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)周長(chang)約(yue)(yue)1100M,頂部寬約(yue)(yue)15M,底部寬約(yue)(yue)30M,一般高出內外(wai)2-3M,西(xi)北(bei)部城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)更是高出其他城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)部位1-2M左右。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)外(wai)面(mian)的護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,周長(chang)約(yue)(yue)1300M,寬20-30M,深1-2M左右。
根(gen)據城(cheng)(cheng)址范圍內采集到的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)化遺(yi)址推測(ce),雞(ji)鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)年代為屈家嶺文(wen)化時期(qi),也部排除有更早(zao)或更晚的(de)(de)(de)遺(yi)址的(de)(de)(de)可能性。雞(ji)鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)自1996年發現以來(lai),先后(hou)有省(sheng)內外及國外專家前(qian)來(lai)考(kao)古參觀,對雞(ji)鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)保(bao)(bao)存如此(ci)完好(hao)以及豐(feng)富的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)化內涵(han)給予了高度的(de)(de)(de)評價。調查(cha)勘探表明,雞(ji)鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)一處大型(xing)聚落,文(wen)化內涵(han)豐(feng)富,年代久遠,城(cheng)(cheng)垣、壕溝保(bao)(bao)存較(jiao)好(hao),是(shi)(shi)長江(jiang)中(zhong)游(you)較(jiao)少的(de)(de)(de)一處史前(qian)城(cheng)(cheng)址,是(shi)(shi)研(yan)究原始社會(hui)發展和國家起(qi)源的(de)(de)(de)珍貴的(de)(de)(de)實(shi)物(wu)證據,對于(yu)研(yan)究長江(jiang)中(zhong)游(you)和江(jiang)漢平原這一地區(qu)文(wen)明形成過程也具有及其重要的(de)(de)(de)意義。因此(ci),雞(ji)鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址具有較(jiao)高的(de)(de)(de)歷(li)史、文(wen)化和科學研(yan)究價值。