麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)城(cheng)始建于唐代(dai)開元(yuan)十二年(公元(yuan)724),廢棄(qi)于明代(dai)正統八年(公元(yuan)1443),歷時719年。五代(dai)麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)刺史楊(yang)宏(hong)信(xin)及其長子(zi)楊(yang)重勛和其孫(sun)楊(yang)光,世代(dai)守衛(wei)(wei)著麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),抵御契丹(dan)、西夏(xia)守衛(wei)(wei)國土。而楊(yang)宏(hong)信(xin)的次子(zi)楊(yang)業和其孫(sun)楊(yang)延昭均(jun)為宋(song)代(dai)名(ming)將(jiang),在山(shan)西朔州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)北距契丹(dan),稱(cheng)(cheng)雄(xiong)一方。由(you)于麟(lin)州(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)故城(cheng)與楊(yang)家將(jiang)的淵源關系,后代(dai)人們(men)懷著對楊(yang)氏(shi)英雄(xiong)的崇敬心情,將(jiang)此城(cheng)稱(cheng)(cheng)為楊(yang)家城(cheng),延續至今。
2005年榆(yu)林市考古(gu)所(suo)在(zai)西城西關(guan)還發(fa)掘了一處遺(yi)址,被稱為刺史府(fu)。
2009年7月到10月,陜西省(sheng)考(kao)(kao)古研(yan)究(jiu)院與(yu)榆林市考(kao)(kao)古隊對麟州故城(cheng)遺(yi)址(zhi)進行了考(kao)(kao)古調查(cha)、勘(kan)探與(yu)測(ce)繪(hui)。
麟州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)北鄰草地(di)溝,西鄰窟野河,東(dong)接桃峁(mao)梁,南與(yu)麻(ma)堰溝接壤,高(gao)差約(yue)200米。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)呈不(bu)規則長(chang)條形。整個城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)由3座(zuo)小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)組成,分別為東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。從考古人員航拍圖中(zhong)可以看到,三座(zuo)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong),紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)位于西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的中(zhong)間,由東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)護(hu)衛(wei)(wei)著(zhu),而東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和(he)西城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)要么臨溝壑,要么靠(kao)山(shan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻護(hu)衛(wei)(wei),倚仗高(gao)山(shan)、溝壑這些天然屏障,麟州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)已經呈現易守難攻之勢。
據陜西(xi)省考古研(yan)究(jiu)院肖健一(yi)(yi)介紹,整個城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址面積約為(wei)1.12平方公(gong)里(li),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)周(zhou)長(chang)約5.4公(gong)里(li)。東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)和紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),三個小城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)既相(xiang)互聯系又相(xiang)對(dui)獨立。東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)有(you)一(yi)(yi)門(men)可以(yi)進(jin)入(ru),西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)沒有(you)門(men),雖然可以(yi)通過兩個門(men)進(jin)入(ru)紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),然而想(xiang)要不被守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)官兵發現很難。肖健一(yi)(yi)解釋說(shuo),以(yi)紫錦城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)例(li),如果想(xiang)要從東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)南門(men)進(jin)入(ru),門(men)口(kou)的城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻設有(you)馬面,馬面上的守(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)者可清(qing)楚看到入(ru)侵者,即(ji)使進(jin)了城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)形成甕(weng)中捉鱉之勢,相(xiang)信入(ru)侵者也難以(yi)再進(jin)入(ru)下(xia)一(yi)(yi)關,而此時(shi)也無法撤退出(chu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。
三座小城(cheng)(cheng)是互通的(de)(de)(de),如果有一座城(cheng)(cheng)有入侵者(zhe)進攻,其他(ta)兩(liang)城(cheng)(cheng)均(jun)可立即派兵(bing)前往支援(yuan)。城(cheng)(cheng)防工事中甕城(cheng)(cheng)、城(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)、馬面、角(jiao)樓等均(jun)保(bao)留(liu)很好(hao),尤其是位于(yu)城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)中部的(de)(de)(de)紫錦城(cheng)(cheng),有一殘存20米(mi)保(bao)存非常好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)夯筑(zhu)墻(qiang)體,墻(qiang)體上部為(wei)(wei)麟州城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)高(gao)點(dian),估計可能為(wei)(wei)曾被很多(duo)(duo)名(ming)人詩句提到的(de)(de)(de)紅樓遺址(zhi)。考古調查(cha)(cha)中發(fa)現,東城(cheng)(cheng)中有大量且(qie)密集的(de)(de)(de)建筑(zhu)遺址(zhi),估計可能多(duo)(duo)為(wei)(wei)老(lao)百姓居住。西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)同樣發(fa)現有建筑(zhu)遺址(zhi),地面由磚鋪而成,估計當時的(de)(de)(de)刺史府應該在此(ci),而且(qie)西(xi)城(cheng)(cheng)可能還有更高(gao)的(de)(de)(de)軍事防御機關(guan),但(dan)此(ci)次調查(cha)(cha)未能發(fa)現。
此次除對(dui)麟(lin)(lin)州(zhou)故城(cheng)本身進行了(le)調(diao)查外,還對(dui)城(cheng)址(zhi)背面殘存的(de)墩臺及東面、南面的(de)營堡進行了(le)調(diao)查,采(cai)集(ji)到(dao)了(le)132件文物標本,發現(xian)各類遺跡現(xian)象95處(chu)(chu),其中(zhong)門址(zhi)10處(chu)(chu)、墩臺2處(chu)(chu)、馬面5處(chu)(chu)、角樓3處(chu)(chu)、夯(hang)土基(ji)址(zhi)2處(chu)(chu)等(deng)。在(zai)調(diao)查勘探的(de)基(ji)礎上,對(dui)麟(lin)(lin)州(zhou)故城(cheng)遺址(zhi)周邊(bian)約10平方公里(li)的(de)區域進行了(le)航(hang)空遙(yao)感調(diao)查,制作了(le)航(hang)空遙(yao)感影像(xiang)圖,建立了(le)數字高(gao)程模型,為(wei)制定麟(lin)(lin)州(zhou)故城(cheng)文物保護規劃及有效保護這一(yi)珍貴(gui)歷史(shi)文化遺存提(ti)供(gong)了(le)科(ke)學(xue)、詳實(shi)的(de)資料和依據。同樣因為(wei)此次的(de)調(diao)查,揭秘(mi)了(le)麟(lin)(lin)州(zhou)故城(cheng)嚴密(mi)的(de)防(fang)御體(ti)系。
2006年5月國(guo)(guo)務(wu)院公(gong)布為第六(liu)批全國(guo)(guo)重點(dian)文物保護單位。