長樂宮遺址(zhi)即(ji)現在的未(wei)央區閣(ge)老門(men)、唐寨(zhai)(zhai)、張家(jia)巷(xiang)、羅寨(zhai)(zhai)、講武殿、中查、西查、東查,樊寨(zhai)(zhai)和雷寨(zhai)(zhai)等村莊。
長樂(le)宮的考古工作開(kai)始(shi)于1956年。經勘查,該宮平(ping)面(mian)(mian)形(xing)狀不規整,周長約(yue)(yue)10千(qian)米(mi),面(mian)(mian)積約(yue)(yue)6平(ping)方千(qian)米(mi),占長安城(cheng)總(zong)面(mian)(mian)積的六分(fen)之一(yi)左右。宮墻四門遺跡尚(shang)能(neng)辨認,宮內建筑已完全湮滅,只有長信(xin)宮、長秋宮等少數宮室,可據出(chu)土物印證。通過發掘表明,長樂(le)宮在(zai)東(dong)漢還保存完好,五代十國(guo)以后廢棄。
長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)樂宮遺址曾出土罕見排水(shui)(shui)(shui)渠(qu)道(dao),在(zai)一(yi)米(mi)(mi)多(duo)深的地(di)下,兩(liang)組陶質排水(shui)(shui)(shui)管道(dao)如(ru)兩(liang)條南(nan)北(bei)向(xiang)的巨龍“聚首”在(zai)一(yi)條長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)達(da)五(wu)(wu)(wu)十七米(mi)(mi)的排水(shui)(shui)(shui)渠(qu)邊(bian)。而排水(shui)(shui)(shui)渠(qu)道(dao)由(you)一(yi)條排水(shui)(shui)(shui)渠(qu)和長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)短不(bu)一(yi)、粗細不(bu)均(jun)的五(wu)(wu)(wu)角形排水(shui)(shui)(shui)管道(dao)共同構成(cheng)。排水(shui)(shui)(shui)渠(qu)長(chang)(chang)(chang)(chang)達(da)五(wu)(wu)(wu)十七米(mi)(mi),寬(kuan)約一(yi)點八米(mi)(mi),深約一(yi)點五(wu)(wu)(wu)米(mi)(mi),在(zai)接納了來自南(nan)方和東方的各個排水(shui)(shui)(shui)管道(dao)的污水(shui)(shui)(shui)之后,便向(xiang)西(xi)北(bei)方向(xiang)流去。這從側(ce)面表明了西(xi)漢時(shi)期中(zhong)國皇(huang)宮具(ju)有較(jiao)高的建筑水(shui)(shui)(shui)平。
經過(guo)多年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)考古(gu)(gu)勘探和(he)發(fa)(fa)掘(jue),長(chang)(chang)樂(le)(le)宮的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)布局、范(fan)圍(wei)日漸清晰,并且與文獻(xian)中的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)記載相互(hu)印證(zheng)。整(zheng)個(ge)宮城(cheng)占地(di)面積約6平方公里,約占全城(cheng)總面積的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)六(liu)分之一(yi),四周建(jian)有(you)(you)圍(wei)墻。2003年(nian)發(fa)(fa)掘(jue)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)四號宮殿(dian)(據考古(gu)(gu)研究為(wei)臨華殿(dian))遺(yi)(yi)址有(you)(you)2000平方米(mi)(mi),房(fang)子為(wei)半地(di)穴(xue)式(shi),鵝卵(luan)石(shi)鋪地(di)后砂漿抹平地(di)面,墻壁(bi)涂有(you)(you)白灰(hui),并飾(shi)有(you)(you)奪目的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)彩(cai)繪壁(bi)畫,通(tong)(tong)道(dao)(dao)和(he)臺階(jie)鋪有(you)(you)精美的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)印花(hua)磚,顯示出獨特(te)(te)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)審美取向。而后發(fa)(fa)掘(jue)出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)五號宮殿(dian)遺(yi)(yi)址形制獨特(te)(te),遺(yi)(yi)址圍(wei)墻特(te)(te)別厚。專家們推測(ce)這(zhe)(zhe)里就(jiu)是用來儲藏(zang)冰的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“凌(ling)室(shi)”,厚厚的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)墻壁(bi)有(you)(you)利于保持室(shi)溫,所藏(zang)之冰用來儲藏(zang)食物(wu)、防腐保鮮和(he)降溫納涼。考古(gu)(gu)工作(zuo)者發(fa)(fa)掘(jue)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)長(chang)(chang)樂(le)(le)宮內規(gui)模較大的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)六(liu)號宮殿(dian)遺(yi)(yi)址,它(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)中心是一(yi)座大型(xing)夯(hang)土臺基(ji),東西長(chang)(chang)約160米(mi)(mi),南北殘寬50余米(mi)(mi),建(jian)筑布局有(you)(you)序、結(jie)構精巧,出土了(le)(le)(le)大量的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑構件。據考證(zheng),這(zhe)(zhe)處(chu)規(gui)模宏偉的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑很可能就(jiu)是長(chang)(chang)樂(le)(le)宮前殿(dian)遺(yi)(yi)址。除(chu)了(le)(le)(le)房(fang)屋(wu)、水井、院落外,緊(jin)貼夯(hang)土臺基(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)條長(chang)(chang)34.29米(mi)(mi)、最寬處(chu)1.9米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)半地(di)下通(tong)(tong)道(dao)(dao)引發(fa)(fa)了(le)(le)(le)諸多猜想(xiang)。有(you)(you)專家認(ren)為(wei),這(zhe)(zhe)條地(di)下通(tong)(tong)道(dao)(dao)就(jiu)是皇(huang)宮中的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)秘(mi)道(dao)(dao),是皇(huang)族們預防不(bu)測(ce)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)安全通(tong)(tong)道(dao)(dao)。
長樂宮周圍筑有宮城,由于(yu)長樂宮是在(zai)秦興樂宮基礎上修建起來的(de)缺乏系(xi)統(tong)規劃,平面不甚(shen)規整、為不規則的(de)方形,尤其南(nan)宮墻凹(ao)凸轉折(zhe)較多,宮城四面各設一座(zuo)宮門(men)(men),東門(men)(men)和(he)西門(men)(men)外(wai)有闕。
宮(gong)(gong)(gong)垣(yuan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)(xi)長(chang)(chang)(chang)2900米(mi),南北寬2400米(mi),周(zhou)長(chang)(chang)(chang)10600米(mi),占地面(mian)積(ji)(ji)約(yue)6平方公(gong)里(li),約(yue)占漢長(chang)(chang)(chang)安城總面(mian)積(ji)(ji)的(de)(de)(de)1/6。宮(gong)(gong)(gong)城平面(mian)形制略呈(cheng)方形,南墻(qiang)在(zai)(zai)覆(fu)盎(ang)門(men)西(xi)(xi)(xi)有(you)一曲(qu)折,其(qi)余各(ge)墻(qiang)都為直線。宮(gong)(gong)(gong)城為夯筑土墻(qiang),厚達20多米(mi)。宮(gong)(gong)(gong)墻(qiang)四面(mian)各(ge)設一座宮(gong)(gong)(gong)門(men),其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)東(dong)(dong)(dong)、西(xi)(xi)(xi)二門(men)是主要通道,門(men)外有(you)闕(que)樓稱為東(dong)(dong)(dong)闕(que)和(he)西(xi)(xi)(xi)闕(que)。南宮(gong)(gong)(gong)門(men)與(yu)(yu)覆(fu)盎(ang)門(men)南北相(xiang)(xiang)對。東(dong)(dong)(dong)、南兩面(mian)臨城墻(qiang),西(xi)(xi)(xi)隔(ge)安門(men)大(da)街與(yu)(yu)未(wei)央宮(gong)(gong)(gong)相(xiang)(xiang)望。長(chang)(chang)(chang)樂(le)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)周(zhou)回二十余里(li),內(nei)有(you)14所宮(gong)(gong)(gong)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),均坐北向南。其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)前殿(dian)(dian)(dian)位(wei)于(yu)南面(mian)中(zhong)(zhong)部(bu),前殿(dian)(dian)(dian)西(xi)(xi)(xi)側有(you)長(chang)(chang)(chang)信(xin)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)(即長(chang)(chang)(chang)信(xin)殿(dian)(dian)(dian))、長(chang)(chang)(chang)秋殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、長(chang)(chang)(chang)定殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、永壽(shou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(即長(chang)(chang)(chang)壽(shou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian))、永昌(chang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、永寧(ning)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng);前殿(dian)(dian)(dian)北面(mian)有(you)大(da)夏(xia)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、臨華殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、宣德(de)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、通光殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、高(gao)明殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、建(jian)始(shi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、廣陽殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、神仙(xian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、椒房殿(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)長(chang)(chang)(chang)亭殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng)。另(ling)有(you)溫室殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、鐘室殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、月室殿(dian)(dian)(dian)以及秦始(shi)皇時在(zai)(zai)興樂(le)宮(gong)(gong)(gong)中(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)造的(de)(de)(de)高(gao)達40丈(zhang)的(de)(de)(de)鴻臺。
長樂(le)宮是(shi)中國漢(han)代的“三宮”之(zhi)一。
漢高祖五年(nian)(公元前202年(nian))九月,由(you)丞相蕭何主(zhu)持在秦興(xing)樂宮基(ji)礎上開始營修。
漢高(gao)祖七年(公元(yuan)前200年)二月,長樂(le)宮竣工(gong)。史載:(漢七年)二月,高(gao)祖自平城過趙、雒(luo)陽,至長安。長樂(le)宮成,丞相已(yi)下徙治長安。
漢(han)高祖九年(公元(yuan)前198年),朝廷遷往未(wei)央宮(gong),長(chang)樂(le)宮(gong)改為太(tai)后(hou)(hou)住所。太(tai)后(hou)(hou)所住宮(gong)殿為長(chang)信宮(gong),是長(chang)樂(le)宮(gong)建筑(zhu)群中較重要的建筑(zhu)物(wu)。