遺(yi)址(zhi)總面積約600萬平方米(mi)(mi)。甘泉宮興廢年代待考(kao)。現存(cun)遺(yi)跡有城(cheng)墻(qiang)、大型建(jian)筑(zhu)夯(hang)土(tu)臺基、陶(tao)窯等。南(nan)城(cheng)墻(qiang)長1948米(mi)(mi),西城(cheng)墻(qiang)長890米(mi)(mi),北城(cheng)墻(qiang)長1950米(mi)(mi),東城(cheng)墻(qiang)長880米(mi)(mi)。城(cheng)墻(qiang)殘高(gao)不等,周長約為5668米(mi)(mi),夯(hang)土(tu)筑(zhu)成。在遺(yi)址(zhi)中(zhong)心區現存(cun)有西漢的(de)石熊(xiong)、宋代的(de)石鼓各1件。附(fu)近發(fa)現有五(wu)角形陶(tao)水管道、各種陶(tao)質建(jian)筑(zhu)材料及生活用具(ju)等。
甘泉宮是富麗豪華宮殿群的總稱,涼武帝村一帶是甘泉宮的主體建筑所在,在此周圍還有許多附屬宮、觀、臺建筑,甘泉宮的規模僅次于長安未央宮,史書記載甘泉宮在漢武帝建元中增廣后“周回(hui)十九里一百二十步,有宮(gong)十二臺十一”(《關中記(ji)(ji)》)。兩千年前(qian)的(de)古宮(gong)殿(dian),沿至今(jin)天,在遺(yi)址上能見到(dao)的(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)零散的(de)建筑(zhu)臺基和(he)城(cheng)墻殘跡,見到(dao)的(de)遺(yi)物(wu)主要是(shi)(shi)(shi)建筑(zhu)材料,如鋪(pu)地磚、空心(xin)磚、子母磚、板瓦(wa)和(he)筒瓦(wa)。石(shi)(shi)刻有漢代石(shi)(shi)熊、宋代題記(ji)(ji)石(shi)(shi)鼓。這些(xie)文物(wu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)研究古宮(gong)殿(dian)的(de)珍貴實物(wu)資(zi)料。
據(ju)史書(shu)記(ji)載(zai),甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)所在地(di)(di)是“黃(huang)帝(di)(di)以(yi)來祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)圜(yuan)邱之(zhi)處”,是黃(huang)帝(di)(di)升仙的地(di)(di)方。又記(ji)“匈奴祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)處,本云陽甘泉(quan)(quan)山下,秦(qin)奪其地(di)(di)”。黃(huang)帝(di)(di)祭(ji)(ji)祀神(shen)靈,朝(chao)諸侯(hou)的萬靈明(ming)庭就(jiu)在甘泉(quan)(quan)。秦(qin)代(dai)在此造林光宮(gong),漢(han)(han)代(dai)于其旁起甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)。《史記(ji)·秦(qin)始(shi)皇本紀》:“二十七年,始(shi)皇巡(xun)隴西、北(bei)地(di)(di),出雞頭山,過回中(zhong)。焉(yan)作信宮(gong)渭南,已更命信宮(gong)為(wei)極廟,象天(tian)(tian)極。自極廟道(dao)通酈山(即“驪山”),作甘泉(quan)(quan)前殿。筑甬道(dao),自咸陽屬(shu)之(zhi)。是歲,賜(si)爵一(yi)級。治(zhi)馳道(dao)。”《史記(ji)·孝武(wu)本紀》:“又作甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong),中(zhong)為(wei)臺室,畫(hua)天(tian)(tian)、地(di)(di)、泰一(yi)諸神(shen),而(er)置(zhi)祭(ji)(ji)具以(yi)致天(tian)(tian)神(shen)。”《漢(han)(han)書(shu)·郊(jiao)祀志(zhi)》記(ji)載(zai),武(wu)帝(di)(di)因齊人李少翁言,“作甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)遺址,中(zhong)為(wei)臺室,畫(hua)天(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)泰一(yi)鬼神(shen),而(er)置(zhi)祭(ji)(ji)具以(yi)祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)神(shen)。”這些記(ji)述表(biao)明(ming)古代(dai)祭(ji)(ji)天(tian)(tian)神(shen)非常隆(long)重,他是傳說(shuo)黃(huang)帝(di)(di),秦(qin)、漢(han)(han)帝(di)(di)王在甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)的重要活動之(zhi)一(yi)。
古(gu)代(dai)重視甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺(yi)址,秦(qin)、漢兩朝在(zai)此營建(jian)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)室,是(shi)因(yin)為(wei)(wei)甘泉(quan)(quan)一帶在(zai)古(gu)代(dai)以(yi)地勢險(xian)要聞名(ming)。范雎《戰國策(ce)》中記述:“大(da)王(wang)之(zhi)國,北(bei)有(you)(you)甘泉(quan)(quan),谷口。”甘泉(quan)(quan)山是(shi)屏障咸(xian)陽的前(qian)哨。秦(qin)始皇為(wei)(wei)了(le)防御侮,在(zai)甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺(yi)址筑林(lin)光宮(gong)(gong)(gong),又(you)從(cong)甘泉(quan)(quan)至內蒙九原修直(zhi)道,以(yi)利軍備。甘泉(quan)(quan)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)遺(yi)址山高氣爽(shuang),是(shi)避暑勝(sheng)地。而(er)秦(qin)始皇到甘泉(quan)(quan)林(lin)光宮(gong)(gong)(gong),不僅是(shi)為(wei)(wei)了(le)避暑,更有(you)(you)威(wei)懾匈奴的安邊作用。
西漢(han)時期,甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong)遺址的規模僅次于長(chang)安未央宮(gong)(gong)。史書記(ji)載甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong)在漢(han)武(wu)帝(di)建元(yuan)中增廣后,“周(zhou)回十(shi)(shi)(shi)九(jiu)里一百(bai)二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)步,有宮(gong)(gong)十(shi)(shi)(shi)二(er)(er)臺(tai)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一”(《關中記(ji)》)。另有記(ji)載說甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong)遺址“宮(gong)(gong)殿樓(lou)觀略與建章相(xiang)比,百(bai)官皆有邸舍”(《括地志(zhi)》)。宮(gong)(gong)的宏偉壯觀由(you)此(ci)可見了(le)。《漢(han)書·郊祀志(zhi)》記(ji)載漢(han)代皇帝(di)到甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong):“高祖時五(wu)(wu)來(lai),文帝(di)二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)來(lai),武(wu)帝(di)二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)來(lai),武(wu)帝(di)七十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)(wu)來(lai),宣(xuan)帝(di)二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)五(wu)(wu)來(lai),初元(yuan)元(yuan)年以(yi)來(lai)亦二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)來(lai)。”《資治(zhi)通(tong)鑒》記(ji)載,唐太(tai)宗(zong)李世(shi)民(min)貞觀二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(646年)曾到甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong)。秦漢(han)下(xia)降至唐,帝(di)王們往返于甘泉(quan)宮(gong)(gong)遺址,是因(yin)為有許多重大朝(chao)政(zheng)決策(ce)安排在這里進行,如朝(chao)見諸侯,宴飧(sun)外(wai)國使臣等,而防(fang)外(wai)侮,安邊始(shi)終是重要活動內(nei)容。
甘(gan)泉(quan)宮遺址當(dang)前地表保存多(duo)處大型夯土臺基、西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)城(cheng)(cheng)墻、西(xi)(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)門址、西(xi)(xi)漢石熊等(deng),歷(li)年來遺址本體(ti)及(ji)周圍發現多(duo)件石柱礎、石砌散水(暫名)、空心磚(zhuan)、瓦當(dang)(文字瓦當(dang)有(you)甘(gan)林、衛、長生未央、長生無極、櫻桃轉舍等(deng),其(qi)他有(you)饕餮紋半瓦當(dang)、素面(mian)半瓦當(dang)、葵紋、云氣紋瓦當(dang)多(duo)種)以及(ji)圓形(xing)、五角(jiao)形(xing)陶質排水管道、外粗(cu)細(xi)繩紋、內大小麻點紋筒瓦、板瓦、五銖銅錢(qian)等(deng)遺物(wu)。
2015年(nian),陜西(xi)考古研究院(yuan)的專家(jia)完成(cheng)了甘泉宮遺(yi)址的勘探,發現圍繞一號、二號墩(dun)臺(通天臺)分布(bu)的5處(chu)大型建筑遺(yi)址以及多處(chu)遺(yi)跡現象,包含夯土基址150處(chu)、柱礎(chu)石(shi)177個、石(shi)砌基址6處(chu)、踩踏面4處(chu)、鵝卵石(shi)散水3處(chu)等。
本(ben)次考古勘探,目(mu)的是(shi)界定甘泉宮遺址的遠四(si)至,了(le)解(jie)外墻(qiang)外遺址的分布與內涵。通過調(diao)查確(que)定了(le)同(tong)時期(qi)遺跡12處(chu),包(bao)含陶窯遺跡兩處(chu)、夯(hang)土墻(qiang)遺跡一處(chu)、墓葬(zang)封土或(huo)建(jian)筑臺基42座。其地表殘(can)存秦漢時期(qi)陶片較多,目(mu)前觀察早可到秦末漢初。
可喜(xi)的是外圍(wei)調查中,發現10余(yu)件陶器戳印“云(yun)市”、“云(yun)亭”文字,進(jin)一步(bu)確證秦漢(han)云(yun)陽縣城位于甘泉宮遺址附近。
漢(han)武帝(di)時修建(jian)的(de)通(tong)天(tian)臺(tai)被確認為眾多(duo)建(jian)筑遺址圍繞的(de)中心(xin)處(chu)一號、二號墩(dun)臺(tai),根據對二號墩(dun)臺(tai)的(de)考古工作,發現其為高(gao)約15米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)的(de)三層夯土臺(tai)基結構。底(di)部平面長(chang)方形,南(nan)北(bei)長(chang)74米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),東(dong)西殘(can)(can)寬(kuan)57米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)2米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);中部近似方形,南(nan)北(bei)長(chang)40米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),東(dong)西殘(can)(can)寬(kuan)36米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)6米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi);頂部近似方形,南(nan)北(bei)長(chang)21米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),東(dong)西殘(can)(can)寬(kuan)20米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)4米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)5米(mi)(mi)(mi)(mi)。
在二(er)號墩臺(通(tong)天臺)的(de)三(san)層臺基(ji)上,共發現柱礎(chu)石18處,東側、北(bei)側發現曲尺形的(de)石砌基(ji)址,給后人想象甚至重構漢武帝版“通(tong)天臺”提供(gong)了(le)重要資料。