據《常德地區志(zhi)·文(wen)物志(zhi)》載:"古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為(wei)(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)小(xiao)二城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),坐北朝南(nan)向(xiang),東(dong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),西為(wei)(wei)(wei)小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),中(zhong)間有(you)(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)相(xiang)隔(ge)。大(da)(da)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北長(chang)約(yue)700米(mi)(mi)、東(dong)西寬約(yue)600米(mi)(mi);小(xiao)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)北寬600米(mi)(mi),東(dong)西長(chang)約(yue)300米(mi)(mi)。兩城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)總面積(ji)為(wei)(wei)(wei)54萬平方米(mi)(mi)。"殘存夯(hang)土垣(yuan)高3-4米(mi)(mi),寬12-18米(mi)(mi)。東(dong)西南(nan)北均有(you)(you)(you)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)四角有(you)(you)(you)瞭望臺,殘高7-8米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)四周有(you)(you)(you)護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河,寬約(yue)30米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)內(nei)遍布(bu)漢(han)磚、漢(han)瓦(wa)、和漢(han)代陶器殘片。曾經有(you)(you)(you)村民挖出有(you)(you)(you)銘文(wen)“漢(han)壽(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”字樣的(de)(de)古(gu)磚和陶器等(deng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外東(dong)南(nan)方向(xiang)有(you)(you)(you)較多漢(han)墓,其中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)規模較大(da)(da),傳說中(zhong)的(de)(de)楚平王墓遺(yi)(yi)也在其中(zhong)。據史料(liao)記載,索縣城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)始建于東(dong)漢(han),是湖南(nan)當今(jin)大(da)(da)且(qie)保(bao)存好的(de)(de)漢(han)代古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),1983年(nian)湖南(nan)省人民政(zheng)府公(gong)布(bu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)省級文(wen)物保(bao)護單位,2013年(nian)5月(yue)3日,國家文(wen)物局公(gong)布(bu)了(le)第七(qi)批全國重點文(wen)物保(bao)護單位,索縣漢(han)代古(gu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)榜(bang)上(shang)有(you)(you)(you)名。
索縣漢代古城(cheng)遺址被列(lie)為省級文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)單位以來,城(cheng)址村(cun)歷屆(jie)黨支(zhi)部(bu)、村(cun)委會(hui)在(zai)區文物(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)門的(de)(de)指(zhi)導下,對遺址采(cai)取了(le)一(yi)系列(lie)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)措施:以村(cun)委會(hui)為主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)體成立了(le)村(cun)文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)領導小組,支(zhi)部(bu)書記和(he)村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)為第一(yi)責任(ren)人(ren),居住在(zai)遺址內(nei)的(de)(de)4個(ge)村(cun)民(min)組長為主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)成員(yuan),并(bing)把村(cun)支(zhi)書、村(cun)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)任(ren)的(de)(de)手機設(she)為舉報電話;配合文物(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)門劃定了(le)四周護(hu)(hu)城(cheng)河外(wai)圍50米以內(nei)為文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)范(fan)圍,規定在(zai)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)范(fan)圍內(nei)不準亂挖(wa)亂建,不準燒磚燒瓦,不準在(zai)遺址城(cheng)墻上新建住房(fang);不準盜挖(wa)、倒賣文物(wu),如發現文物(wu)必須無(wu)條件上交文物(wu)主(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)管部(bu)門。同(tong)時,村(cun)里(li)還活躍一(yi)支(zhi)以離任(ren)村(cun)支(zhi)書蘇煥清為骨干(gan)的(de)(de)文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)(hu)義務宣傳隊。
幾十年(nian)來,城址(zhi)村(cun)(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)特別(bie)(bie)是居住在遺址(zhi)內的(de)(de)(de)居民(min)(min),大多(duo)自覺遵(zun)守文物(wu)保護的(de)(de)(de)各項(xiang)規定(ding),對于個別(bie)(bie)亂挖(wa)亂建的(de)(de)(de)行為(wei),也被村(cun)(cun)(cun)里及時勸止。2012年(nian)5月,一(yi)戶(hu)周姓(xing)(xing)村(cun)(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)在安(an)葬逝者時,意外(wai)在遺址(zhi)外(wai)圍挖(wa)到(dao)(dao)一(yi)座(zuo)戰(zhan)國古墓,發現(xian)數件珍貴(gui)文物(wu)。逝者親屬(shu)想借機擴(kuo)大范圍繼續挖(wa)掘(jue),遭到(dao)(dao)了一(yi)群(qun)村(cun)(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)的(de)(de)(de)反對,其中一(yi)姓(xing)(xing)李(li)的(de)(de)(de)年(nian)輕村(cun)(cun)(cun)民(min)(min)及時向村(cun)(cun)(cun)委會報告,挖(wa)掘(jue)被及時制止,文物(wu)無(wu)償上交。
如今,索縣漢(han)(han)代古城遺(yi)址基本完(wan)好。現(xian)殘存城垣為粘土夯筑,城垣殘高(gao)3至4米、寬12至18米。東(dong)、西(xi)、南、北(bei)4門依稀可見。城四角的瞭望臺,殘高(gao)7至8米。四周30米左右(you)寬的護城河(he)目前還(huan)能養(yang)魚。城東(dong)崆嚨觀宇雖毀,但(dan)遺(yi)址尚存,漢(han)(han)磚漢(han)(han)瓦,遍地皆(jie)是。
漢壽(shou)城邊野草春,荒祠古墓(mu)對荊榛。
田(tian)中牧豎(shu)燒(shao)芻狗(gou),陌上行人(ren)看石麟。
華表半空經(jing)霹(pi)靂,碑(bei)文才(cai)見滿埃(ai)塵。
不知(zhi)何日東(dong)瀛變,此地(di)還成要路津(jin)。
——【唐】劉禹錫 《漢壽城春望》
這是一千多(duo)年(nian)(nian)前,唐朝武德(de)年(nian)(nian)間劉(liu)禹錫被貶朗(lang)州時,在古索城遺址,留下的(de)一首詩。這位朗(lang)州司馬(ma)與古城寂寥的(de)背(bei)影。