草(cao)店(dian)坊城遺(yi)址(zhi)位于(yu)孝昌(chang)縣花園(yuan)鎮中(zhong)心村陳家草(cao)林與陳家茨林交界處(chu),107國道(dao)從(cong)遺(yi)址(zhi)中(zhong)間(jian)穿過(guo)。發現(xian)于(yu)1985年。遺址平面(mian)呈不(bu)規則長(chang)方形,由城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)(yuan)、樓櫓、城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門及(ji)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)組成,總面(mian)積(ji)16萬(wan)平方米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)(yuan)周長(chang)1326米,設有(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門二座,三個樓櫓基址,護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)在城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)(yuan)外圍,現(xian)為水塘和低洼池。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻夯土修筑而成,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)(yuan)高聳寬大,護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he)瀤(huai)既深(shen)且陡,設有(you)(you)水陸兩門,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)(yuan)的拐(guai)角(jiao)上(shang)筑有(you)(you)高大的樓櫓建(jian)筑,雖瀕臨河(he)水,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內卻筑有(you)(you)深(shen)井,這些軍事(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堡重要特征(zheng),是軍事(shi)重鎮的由來。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址遺物(wu)屬于楚文化。
該遺址(zhi)具(ju)有(you)極高的(de)歷史價值(zhi)和考古研(yan)(yan)究價值(zhi)。它(ta)的(de)發(fa)現(xian),為研(yan)(yan)究楚(chu)國(guo)的(de)政治、軍事、城址(zhi)的(de)構筑形制及文(wen)化淵源提供了重要的(de)實物(wu)資(zi)料。1994年被公布(bu)為湖北(bei)省文(wen)物(wu)保護單(dan)位(wei),2013年5月(yue),被國(guo)務院核定公布(bu)為第七批(pi)全國(guo)重點文(wen)物(wu)保護單(dan)位(wei)。
草(cao)店坊城于1985年(nian)孝(xiao)感(gan)地區(qu)文物(wu)普(pu)查時(shi)發現,1989年(nian)5月為(wei)配合107國道工(gong)程建設(she)進行(xing)了調查勘探。地處鄂東北(bei)地區(qu)的(de)(de)(de)孝(xiao)感(gan)“董城”,正(zheng)踞于大別山(shan)、桐柏山(shan)南麓之要隘,北(bei)控中原,南扼長江,應(ying)(ying)是楚國的(de)(de)(de)一個城邑或軍事(shi)重(zhong)鎮(zhen)。根據(ju)對城址的(de)(de)(de)解(jie)剖材料分析, 城址遺物(wu)屬于楚文化,此城的(de)(de)(de)始(shi)筑(zhu)年(nian)代當(dang)在(zai)東周時(shi)期,并且是在(zai)西周居住遺址的(de)(de)(de)基礎上起筑(zhu)的(de)(de)(de),漢代重(zhong)修過。當(dang)時(shi)該城的(de)(de)(de)名稱應(ying)(ying)為(wei)“草(cao)甸防城”,而不是今人訛化的(de)(de)(de)“草(cao)店坊城”。顧名思義,甸即指城池郊外的(de)(de)(de)地方;防就(jiu)是防御之意。故(gu)“草(cao)甸防城”的(de)(de)(de)功能應(ying)(ying)為(wei)軍事(shi)防御的(de)(de)(de)邑城。
草(cao)店坊(fang)(fang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)孝(xiao)(xiao)昌(chang)的(de)(de)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)市之根,是(shi)(shi)花(hua)園軍(jun)事(shi)(shi)重鎮的(de)(de)由(you)來。草(cao)店坊(fang)(fang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)北(bei)部山地向(xiang)平(ping)原(yuan)過渡的(de)(de)軍(jun)事(shi)(shi)據(ju)點,據(ju)考古資(zi)料,坊(fang)(fang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)始建東(dong)周時期(qi),是(shi)(shi)楚國在鄂東(dong)北(bei)設立的(de)(de)軍(jun)事(shi)(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堡,是(shi)(shi)鎮守北(bei)方(fang)三關(guan)(guan)(guan)(大悟九里關(guan)(guan)(guan)、武勝關(guan)(guan)(guan)、廣(guang)水(shui)平(ping)靖關(guan)(guan)(guan))的(de)(de)后方(fang)軍(jun)事(shi)(shi)指揮機關(guan)(guan)(guan)和后勤給養供應中心。草(cao)店坊(fang)(fang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)鄂東(dong)北(bei)地區東(dong)周至秦漢時期(qi)獨有的(de)(de)軍(jun)事(shi)(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堡,是(shi)(shi)中原(yuan)地區與(yu)中南(nan)(nan)地區連接的(de)(de)要地,也是(shi)(shi)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)水(shui)陸交通的(de)(de)重要樞(shu)紐(niu)。民間稱“董城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”是(shi)(shi)漢代名臣董仲舒的(de)(de)六世孫董黯而來,它是(shi)(shi)孝(xiao)(xiao)昌(chang)除(chu)孟宗外另一個孝(xiao)(xiao)子,也是(shi)(shi)研究孝(xiao)(xiao)昌(chang)文(wen)化的(de)(de)歷史面貌(mao)。
從考古學上講,董城(cheng)是一座東周(zhou)至秦(qin)漢(han)(han)時(shi)(shi)期(qi)的(de)(de)軍事(shi)(shi)城(cheng)邑,文(wen)物(wu)豐富,保存完整。其地(di)理位置(zhi)險(xian)要(yao)(yao),北(bei)控義(yi)陽(yang)三關(guan)(武陽(yang)關(guan)、黃峴(xian)關(guan)、平靖關(guan)),南達(da)江漢(han)(han),具(ju)有十(shi)分(fen)重(zhong)要(yao)(yao)的(de)(de)戰(zhan)略意(yi)義(yi)。草店(dian)坊城(cheng)是孝昌的(de)(de)城(cheng)市之(zhi)根,是鄂東北(bei)地(di)區(qu)東周(zhou)至秦(qin)漢(han)(han)時(shi)(shi)期(qi)獨有的(de)(de)軍事(shi)(shi)城(cheng)堡,是中原地(di)區(qu)與中南地(di)區(qu)連接的(de)(de)軍事(shi)(shi)要(yao)(yao)地(di),也是南北(bei)水陸交通(tong)的(de)(de)重(zhong)要(yao)(yao)樞紐,為(wei)開發孝文(wen)化的(de)(de)人文(wen)景觀,再現古城(cheng)風貌,提供了條件。