遺(yi)址位于(yu)湖北省(sheng)荊州市公安縣獅(shi)子口鎮龍(long)船(chuan)嘴村和王家(jia)廠村交界(jie)處(chu)。GPS測定(ding)的(de)地理坐標為(wei)N29°55′41.6″,E111°59′03.8″。南(nan)距洈水河(he)約1KM,東北距公安縣城(cheng)約30KM。該遺(yi)址為(wei)一(yi)新(xin)石器時代(dai)城(cheng)址,平(ping)面略呈圓角梯形,南(nan)北長約480米(mi)(mi),東西寬330-430米(mi)(mi),面積約18萬平(ping)方米(mi)(mi),距今5000多(duo)年。城(cheng)垣外有(you)(you)城(cheng)壕。城(cheng)內高(gao)地沈家(jia)大山一(yi)帶有(you)(you)厚(hou)達2米(mi)(mi)以(yi)上的(de)文(wen)(wen)化層。城(cheng)東南(nan)100米(mi)(mi)外也發現(xian)一(yi)處(chu)小型遺(yi)址,文(wen)(wen)化層厚(hou)1米(mi)(mi)以(yi)上。城(cheng)址范圍內采(cai)集有(you)(you)大溪文(wen)(wen)化至(zhi)石家(jia)河(he)文(wen)(wen)化時期的(de)文(wen)(wen)化遺(yi)物。
雞鳴城遺址對研究江漢地區遠古時代的社會發展水平、生態環境、聚落形態等方面都具有重要意義。2006年中華(hua)人民共和國(guo)國(guo)務院公布為(wei)第六批全國(guo)重(zhong)點文(wen)物(wu)保護(hu)單位。
傳說(shuo)有二神夜間(jian)在此筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),商定雞(ji)叫停(ting)工,本方(fang)土地(di)在此作祟,假裝雞(ji)叫,二神棄城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)而去,故(gu)名雞(ji)鳴城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)呈不規則橢(tuo)圓形,東南(nan)和西南(nan)角(jiao)有明顯的轉折。南(nan)北(bei)最大距離約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)500M,東西約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)400M,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內面(mian)積約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)15萬(wan)(wan)平方(fang)米,總面(mian)積約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)21萬(wan)(wan)平方(fang)米。一條水渠和一條簡易公路橫貫城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)的北(bei)部(bu)(bu),將城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)分割成南(nan)北(bei)兩部(bu)(bu)分,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)周(zhou)長(chang)約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)1100M,頂部(bu)(bu)寬(kuan)約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)15M,底部(bu)(bu)寬(kuan)約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)30M,一般高出(chu)(chu)內外(wai)2-3M,西北(bei)部(bu)(bu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)更是(shi)高出(chu)(chu)其(qi)他城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)部(bu)(bu)位(wei)1-2M左右。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)外(wai)面(mian)的護城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)河(he),周(zhou)長(chang)約(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)1300M,寬(kuan)20-30M,深(shen)1-2M左右。
根據(ju)城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)范(fan)圍內(nei)采(cai)集到的(de)(de)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)推測(ce),雞鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)年代為屈家嶺文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)時期(qi),也部(bu)排(pai)除有(you)更(geng)早(zao)或更(geng)晚的(de)(de)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)的(de)(de)可能性。雞鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)自(zi)1996年發現(xian)以來,先后有(you)省內(nei)外及(ji)國(guo)(guo)外專家前(qian)來考(kao)古參觀,對雞鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)保(bao)存如此(ci)完好(hao)以及(ji)豐富的(de)(de)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)內(nei)涵給予了高(gao)(gao)度的(de)(de)評(ping)價(jia)。調查勘探表明(ming),雞鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)是(shi)(shi)一處大型聚落(luo),文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)內(nei)涵豐富,年代久遠,城(cheng)(cheng)垣(yuan)、壕溝(gou)保(bao)存較好(hao),是(shi)(shi)長(chang)江(jiang)中(zhong)游較少的(de)(de)一處史前(qian)城(cheng)(cheng)址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),是(shi)(shi)研究原始社會發展和(he)(he)國(guo)(guo)家起源(yuan)的(de)(de)珍貴的(de)(de)實物證據(ju),對于研究長(chang)江(jiang)中(zhong)游和(he)(he)江(jiang)漢平原這一地區文(wen)明(ming)形成過程也具有(you)及(ji)其重要的(de)(de)意(yi)義(yi)。因此(ci),雞鳴(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)遺址(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)具有(you)較高(gao)(gao)的(de)(de)歷(li)史、文(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)和(he)(he)科學(xue)研究價(jia)值。