遺址位于湖北(bei)省(sheng)荊(jing)州市公(gong)安(an)縣獅子口鎮龍船嘴村和王家(jia)廠村交(jiao)界處(chu)。GPS測定的(de)地(di)理坐標為N29°55′41.6″,E111°59′03.8″。南(nan)(nan)距(ju)(ju)洈水河約1KM,東北(bei)距(ju)(ju)公(gong)安(an)縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)約30KM。該遺址為一新石器時(shi)代城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址,平面(mian)略呈圓角(jiao)梯形,南(nan)(nan)北(bei)長約480米(mi),東西寬330-430米(mi),面(mian)積約18萬(wan)平方米(mi),距(ju)(ju)今(jin)5000多(duo)年(nian)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣外有城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壕。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)高地(di)沈家(jia)大山一帶有厚達2米(mi)以上(shang)的(de)文(wen)(wen)化層(ceng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東南(nan)(nan)100米(mi)外也發(fa)現一處(chu)小型遺址,文(wen)(wen)化層(ceng)厚1米(mi)以上(shang)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址范圍內(nei)采集有大溪文(wen)(wen)化至石家(jia)河文(wen)(wen)化時(shi)期(qi)的(de)文(wen)(wen)化遺物。
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(yuan)公布為(wei)第六批全(quan)國(guo)重(zhong)點文物保護單(dan)位。
傳說有二(er)神夜間(jian)在(zai)(zai)此筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),商定(ding)雞(ji)叫停工,本方土地(di)在(zai)(zai)此作祟,假裝雞(ji)叫,二(er)神棄(qi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)而(er)去,故(gu)名雞(ji)鳴城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址呈不(bu)規則(ze)橢圓形(xing),東南(nan)(nan)和(he)西南(nan)(nan)角有明顯的轉折。南(nan)(nan)北最(zui)大距離約(yue)(yue)500M,東西約(yue)(yue)400M,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內面(mian)積約(yue)(yue)15萬平(ping)方米(mi),總面(mian)積約(yue)(yue)21萬平(ping)方米(mi)。一條(tiao)水渠和(he)一條(tiao)簡(jian)易(yi)公路橫貫城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址的北部(bu)(bu),將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址分割(ge)成南(nan)(nan)北兩(liang)部(bu)(bu)分,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣周(zhou)長約(yue)(yue)1100M,頂部(bu)(bu)寬約(yue)(yue)15M,底部(bu)(bu)寬約(yue)(yue)30M,一般高出(chu)內外(wai)2-3M,西北部(bu)(bu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣更是高出(chu)其他(ta)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣部(bu)(bu)位1-2M左右(you)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣外(wai)面(mian)的護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,周(zhou)長約(yue)(yue)1300M,寬20-30M,深1-2M左右(you)。
根(gen)據(ju)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址范圍內(nei)(nei)采集到的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)遺(yi)址推測(ce),雞(ji)鳴(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)年(nian)代為屈(qu)家嶺文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)時(shi)期,也(ye)部排除(chu)有(you)更早或(huo)更晚的(de)(de)(de)遺(yi)址的(de)(de)(de)可能(neng)性。雞(ji)鳴(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)自1996年(nian)發現以來,先后有(you)省內(nei)(nei)外及國(guo)外專(zhuan)家前來考古(gu)參觀,對(dui)雞(ji)鳴(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)保(bao)存如此完好(hao)以及豐富的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)內(nei)(nei)涵給予了高度的(de)(de)(de)評價。調查勘探表明,雞(ji)鳴(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)一處大型聚落(luo),文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)內(nei)(nei)涵豐富,年(nian)代久遠,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣、壕溝保(bao)存較好(hao),是(shi)(shi)長江中游較少的(de)(de)(de)一處史(shi)前城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址,是(shi)(shi)研(yan)究原(yuan)始社會發展和(he)國(guo)家起源的(de)(de)(de)珍貴的(de)(de)(de)實物(wu)證據(ju),對(dui)于研(yan)究長江中游和(he)江漢平原(yuan)這一地區文(wen)(wen)(wen)明形成過程也(ye)具有(you)及其重要的(de)(de)(de)意義。因(yin)此,雞(ji)鳴(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)址具有(you)較高的(de)(de)(de)歷史(shi)、文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)和(he)科學研(yan)究價值。