代王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)屬全國重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位,位于河北(bei)(bei)蔚縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)東20華(hua)里處(chu)的代王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)鎮政府所在地(di)周(zhou)圍,海拔高度908米,古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)南(nan)40華(hua)里為東西橫亙的恒山(shan)余(yu)脈,正南(nan)有(you)的“飛孤關隘”,地(di)勢(shi)險要,成為古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的一道天(tian)然屏(ping)障,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)北(bei)(bei)為淺山(shan)丘陵區,壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河由(you)西南(nan)向東北(bei)(bei)繞城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)流(liu)過(guo)。古代城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)就建在壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河盆地(di)之中(zhong),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內有(you)金波泉(quan)、密河二水(shui),均向北(bei)(bei)流(liu)出(chu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外,匯入壺(hu)(hu)流(liu)河,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)西部為鹽堿(jian)灘地(di),東部城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)內外均為耕地(di)。代王(wang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、馬家(jia)寨、北(bei)(bei)門子、城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)碾四村則坐(zuo)落在古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)之上。
據《史記(ji)·趙世(shi)家》記(ji)載,“趙襄子(zi)北登(deng)夏屋(今山(shan)西(xi)代(dai)(dai)縣草垛(duo)山(shan))誘代(dai)(dai)王(wang),使(shi)廚入(ru)操(cao)銅以(yi)食代(dai)(dai)王(wang)及(ji)從(cong)(cong)者,行斟陰令宰人(ren)各以(yi)擊代(dai)(dai)王(wang)及(ji)從(cong)(cong)官,遂興兵平代(dai)(dai)地(蔚縣一帶)。封伯魯(趙襄子(zi)兄)子(zi)為代(dai)(dai)成君”,《史記(ji)·秦(qin)始(shi)皇本紀》記(ji)載,“秦(qin)王(wang)政(zheng)十年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)228年(nian))趙公(gong)(gong)子(zi)嘉率宗族數百人(ren)奔代(dai)(dai),自為代(dai)(dai)王(wang)。二(er)十五年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)(qian)222年(nian))王(wang)賁(bi)滅(mie)燕,還攻(gong)代(dai)(dai),虜代(dai)(dai)嘉”。高祖六年(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元201前(qian)(qian)年(nian))正月以(yi)云中、雁門、代(dai)(dai)郡五十三(san)縣為諸(zhu)侯(hou)國,立(li)兄宜信侯(hou)喜為代(dai)(dai)王(wang),國都今代(dai)(dai)王(wang)城。
七年(公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)200年)匈奴攻(gong)代(dai)(dai),代(dai)(dai)王喜棄(qi)國(guo)自刎(wen)。十年(公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)197年)代(dai)(dai)相國(guo)陳希(xi)反,自立為(wei)代(dai)(dai)王,劫略(lve)代(dai)(dai)地,十一(yi)年(公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)196年)破陳希(xi)于當(dang)城(cheng)(cheng)(代(dai)(dai)王城(cheng)(cheng)東定安(an)縣(xian)村)。正(zheng)如明代(dai)(dai)蔚縣(xian)人尹(yin)耕在《代(dai)(dai)國(guo)考》中所(suo)述:“山(shan)(常(chang)山(shan))北(bei)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)代(dai)(dai),始之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)商湯(tang),歷代(dai)(dai)國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)故,齊桓之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)服,趙(zhao)手冀斬并,成安(an)陽所(suo)封,公(gong)(gong)(gong)子(zi)嘉所(suo)奔(ben);趙(zhao)歇陳余之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)。夏說之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)守,劉喜之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)所(suo)棄(qi),陳余所(suo)監,皆是,所(suo)謂蔚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)廢(fei)城(cheng)(cheng)也”。古代(dai)(dai)城(cheng)(cheng)作為(wei)代(dai)(dai)國(guo)都邑,郡(jun)縣(xian)治所(suo),為(wei)當(dang)時的(de)政(zheng)治、經濟、軍事、文化中心。
代(dai)(dai)王城遺(yi)址位于河北省蔚縣城東20華里(li)(10公里(li))處的代(dai)(dai)王城鎮政(zheng)府所在(zai)地(di)周(zhou)圍,根據實地(di)調查和代(dai)(dai)王城內所出土(tu)的遺(yi)物分析,代(dai)(dai)王城遺(yi)址為春(chun)秋(qiu)至漢代(dai)(dai)的代(dai)(dai)國(guo)都(dou)城。
古城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)以南(nan)(nan)5華(hua)里為恒山余脈,地勢險要。城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)平面(mian)(mian)呈(cheng)橢圓形(xing),四周城(cheng)(cheng)垣保存(cun)較好。城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)西寬3400米,南(nan)(nan)北(bei)長(chang)2200米,周長(chang)9265米。城(cheng)(cheng)垣高3~12米,夯(hang)(hang)土(tu)板筑(zhu)(zhu),墻基寬10-12米,在(zai)南(nan)(nan)墻有馬面(mian)(mian)、角(jiao)臺(tai)遺(yi)跡(ji)11處,9座(zuo)城(cheng)(cheng)門(men)遺(yi)址(zhi)尚依稀可辨,分別為:正南(nan)(nan)滎陽門(men),東(dong)南(nan)(nan)興隆門(men),正東(dong)寶(bao)源門(men),東(dong)北(bei)迎(ying)海門(men),正北(bei)富農門(men)、文(wen)勝門(men),西北(bei)興圃門(men),正西鐘秀門(men),西南(nan)(nan)崇德門(men)。現均呈(cheng)豁口(kou)狀(zhuang),但名稱沿用至今(jin)。在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)內東(dong)南(nan)(nan)部為宮殿區(qu),面(mian)(mian)積宏大,發現漢代(dai)大型夯(hang)(hang)土(tu)臺(tai)基,這(zhe)里文(wen)化堆(dui)積厚達2米,遺(yi)物十分豐(feng)富,陶(tao)片以建筑(zhu)(zhu)材(cai)料多(duo),生活(huo)日用陶(tao)器(qi)也占(zhan)一定數(shu)量,包含多(duo)種(zhong)器(qi)形(xing),個別器(qi)物上帶(dai)有文(wen)字戳(chuo)記,此外(wai)還夾雜著各類獸骨。在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)分布著眾多(duo)的(de)漢代(dai)封(feng)土(tu)墓,現存(cun)封(feng)土(tu)堆(dui)63座(zuo),均是當(dang)時(shi)王室墓葬。
2001年,代王城(cheng)遺址(zhi)由國務院公布為(wei)第(di)五批(pi)全國重(zhong)點文物(wu)保(bao)護單位。代王城(cheng)城(cheng)址(zhi)為(wei)研(yan)究漢代城(cheng)市(shi)與中國城(cheng)建史提供了重(zhong)要(yao)的(de)實物(wu)資料。同時因(yin)(yin)其地處(chu)北方,因(yin)(yin)而(er)對于(yu)研(yan)究中國北方少數民族與漢族文化交流也極為(wei)重(zhong)要(yao)。