八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao),原名永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao),因東距通(tong)州8華里而被百(bai)姓俗稱(cheng)(cheng)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)。如今地鐵八(ba)通(tong)線、京哈高速路都從(cong)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)邊經過,每天人(ren)來車往,川流不息,但知道(dao)這(zhe)座(zuo)(zuo)古(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)滄桑歷史的(de)(de)(de)卻為數甚少。 歷史上拱衛京師(shi)的(de)(de)(de)古(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)有三(san)座(zuo)(zuo),一(yi)為京西南的(de)(de)(de)盧溝橋(qiao)(qiao),二為京北昌平的(de)(de)(de)朝宗(zong)橋(qiao)(qiao),三(san)為京東通(tong)州區的(de)(de)(de)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao))。 八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)建于(yu)明正統十一(yi)年(nian)(公元1446年(nian)),南北走向,橫(heng)跨通(tong)惠河,為石砌三(san)券(quan)拱橋(qiao)(qiao)。中(zhong)間大券(quan)如虹,可通(tong)舟楫,兩(liang)旁小券(quan)對稱(cheng)(cheng),呈(cheng)錯落之(zhi)勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)上的(de)(de)(de)每塊石頭之(zhi)間嵌鐵相連,十分堅(jian)固。
八里橋(qiao)(qiao)南北長50米(mi),東(dong)(dong)西寬16米(mi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)有(you)32副石(shi)(shi)(shi)欄板(ban),板(ban)面(mian)上的(de)雕刻刀法流(liu)暢,粗獷有(you)力。欄板(ban)上有(you)望柱33對(dui),每個(ge)望柱上雕有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)獅(shi)(shi)。石(shi)(shi)(shi)獅(shi)(shi)形(xing)態各異,栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生,可與盧溝橋(qiao)(qiao)石(shi)(shi)(shi)獅(shi)(shi)媲美。橋(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)西兩(liang)(liang)端(duan)各有(you)一對(dui)戧(chuang)獸,長鬣(lie)密麟,昂首挺胸。護坡石(shi)(shi)(shi)上臥伏著四只鎮水獸,扭頸傾(qing)頭,怒視碧波(bo)。橋(qiao)(qiao)南往東(dong)(dong)200米(mi)處,立(li)有(you)清雍(yong)正御制(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)道碑一座。大橋(qiao)(qiao)兩(liang)(liang)岸(an),綠柳白楊,芳(fang)草萋(qi)萋(qi),風景如(ru)畫。白天(tian),憑(ping)欄東(dong)(dong)望,可見巍巍古城(cheng);夜晚,扶欄觀(guan)水,細波(bo)之中(zhong),月影(ying)婆娑,或如(ru)玉盤,或如(ru)銀鉤。若有(you)客航(hang)貨舟通過,槳碎玉盤,水折銀鉤,甚(shen)為壯觀(guan)。昔日的(de)通州八景之一——長橋(qiao)(qiao)映(ying)月,指的(de)就是此地。
《明英宗實錄(lu)》:“正統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月(yue)(yue),建(jian)通(tong)州八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),命工部(bu)(bu)右侍(shi)郎(lang)王(wang)(wang)永(yong)(yong)和(he)督(du)工。”又據《通(tong)州志》:“八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)即永(yong)(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),在(zai)普濟閘東(dong)。正統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)敕建(jian),祭酒李時勉作記。”李時勉的(de)永(yong)(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)記:“通(tong)州城西八(ba)(ba)里(li)河,京(jing)都諸水匯流(liu)而東(dong)。河雖不廣,每(mei)夏秋之(zhi)交(jiao)雨水泛濫(lan),常架(jia)木為(wei)(wei)(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),比舟為(wei)(wei)(wei)梁,數易輒壞(huai)。內(nei)官監(jian)太監(jian)李德(de)以聞于(yu)(yu)上,欲與其(qi)地建(jian)石橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),乃命司禮(li)監(jian)太監(jian)王(wang)(wang)振往經度之(zhi)。總(zong)督(du)漕(cao)運(yun)都督(du)武興發漕(cao)卒,都指揮僉事陳信領之(zhi),工部(bu)(bu)尚書王(wang)(wang)巹會計經費,侍(shi)郎(lang)王(wang)(wang)永(yong)(yong)和(he)提督(du)之(zhi),又命內(nei)官監(jian)太監(jian)阮安總(zong)理之(zhi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)西五(wu)十(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)(wei)水道(dao)三(san)(san)(san)券(quan),券(quan)與平底石皆交(jiao)互通(tong)貫,錮以鐵(tie),分水石護以鐵(tie)柱,當(dang)其(qi)沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南(nan)北二(er)百尺,兩(liang)(liang)旁皆以石為(wei)(wei)(wei)欄。表(biao)二(er)坊,題曰永(yong)(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),蓋(gai)上所(suo)(suo)賜名(ming)也(ye)。又立(li)廟以祀(si)河神(shen)。經始在(zai)正統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月(yue)(yue),告成于(yu)(yu)十(shi)二(er)月(yue)(yue),明年(nian)(nian)(nian)三(san)(san)(san)月(yue)(yue)立(li)石。”永(yong)(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)歷(li)(li)經五(wu)百余年(nian)(nian)(nian),明清、民國和(he)八(ba)(ba)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)屢加修葺(qi),現狀為(wei)(wei)(wei)石砌三(san)(san)(san)孔拱券(quan)形,南(nan)北走向。永(yong)(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾是東(dong)至(zhi)山海(hai)關、南(nan)至(zhi)天津(jin)陸(lu)路(lu)交(jiao)通(tong)的(de)咽喉,歷(li)(li)史上該地曾進行過兩(liang)(liang)次大規模的(de)中外(wai)戰爭,第一(yi)(yi)次為(wei)(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860)英法侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)(lve)軍(jun)攻陷天津(jin)、通(tong)州后,清政府為(wei)(wei)(wei)保(bao)衛北京(jing)在(zai)這里(li)阻擊侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)(lve)軍(jun),進行了(le)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)戰役。第二(er)為(wei)(wei)(wei)光緒(xu)二(er)十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)國聯軍(jun)入侵(qin)(qin)北京(jing),義和(he)團在(zai)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)狠狠打(da)擊了(le)侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)(lve)者(zhe)的(de)囂(xiao)張氣焰。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)京(jing)津(jin)公路(lu)北側有雍(yong)正十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733)所(suo)(suo)立(li)的(de)“御制(zhi)通(tong)州石道(dao)碑(bei)”一(yi)(yi)座(zuo),碑(bei)文記載了(le)當(dang)年(nian)(nian)(nian)修筑(zhu)朝陽(yang)關外(wai)石道(dao)之(zhi)事。此碑(bei)列(lie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)區級文物保(bao)護單位。另傳,村內(nei)曾住有一(yi)(yi)海(hai)姓滿人(ren),共婦王(wang)(wang)碼漢卡氏為(wei)(wei)(wei)乾隆帝弘歷(li)(li)之(zhi)乳母。雍(yong)正三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1725)在(zai)此為(wei)(wei)(wei)其(qi)立(li)有一(yi)(yi)碑(bei),現已(yi)無存。
2013年(nian)5月,被國(guo)務院(yuan)核(he)定公布為第(di)七批全國(guo)重(zhong)點文物保護單位。
1994年4月,北京大(da)學(xue)考古系發掘隊對八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)進行了搶救(jiu)性(xing)發掘,揭露(lu)面積100平方(fang)米(mi),清理灰(hui)(hui)(hui)坑(keng)14座。出土遺物中的(de)陶(tao)(tao)器(qi)有(you)(you)夾砂灰(hui)(hui)(hui)陶(tao)(tao)、黑陶(tao)(tao)、紅(hong)褐(he)陶(tao)(tao)及泥(ni)質陶(tao)(tao),一(yi)些陶(tao)(tao)片上還發現有(you)(you)刻劃(hua)符號或文(wen)(wen)字(zi),制法為(wei)輪制、手制。器(qi)形有(you)(you)大(da)口(kou)尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器(qi)蓋等。石(shi)(shi)器(qi)多為(wei)殘斷生產工(gong)具,磨(mo)制粗糙(cao)。可辨類(lei)有(you)(you):石(shi)(shi)鉞、石(shi)(shi)斧、石(shi)(shi)鏟等。這些為(wei)研(yan)究(jiu)豫(yu)西(xi)南地區(qu)夏商時期的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀(zhuang)況提供了依據。 據考證,八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)遺址屬夏代,文(wen)(wen)化(hua)層(ceng)堆(dui)積較(jiao)薄(bo),內涵單一(yi),但灰(hui)(hui)(hui)坑(keng)分布相當密集,遺物遺跡豐富,具有(you)(you)重(zhong)要的(de)科研(yan)價值(zhi)。 為(wei)加強對這一(yi)遺址的(de)保(bao)護,進一(yi)步了解(jie)這一(yi)時期的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀(zhuang)況,今年6月份該遺址被列入河南省重(zhong)點文(wen)(wen)物保(bao)護單位。
1994年4月,北京(jing)大學考古系(xi)發(fa)掘(jue)(jue)隊對八里(li)橋進(jin)行了(le)搶救性發(fa)掘(jue)(jue),揭露(lu)面積(ji)100平方米,清理灰坑(keng)14座。出土遺物中的(de)陶(tao)器有(you)夾砂灰陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及泥(ni)質(zhi)陶(tao),一些(xie)陶(tao)片上還發(fa)現有(you)刻劃符(fu)號或文(wen)(wen)(wen)字,制法為(wei)輪(lun)制、手(shou)制。器形有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器蓋等。石(shi)(shi)器多為(wei)殘斷生(sheng)產(chan)工(gong)具,磨制粗糙。可辨類有(you):石(shi)(shi)鉞、石(shi)(shi)斧、石(shi)(shi)鏟(chan)等。這些(xie)為(wei)研究豫西南地(di)區夏(xia)商時期的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)、經(jing)濟(ji)狀況(kuang)提供了(le)依據。 據考證,八里(li)橋遺址屬夏(xia)代,文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)層堆積(ji)較薄,內涵單(dan)一,但灰坑(keng)分布相(xiang)當密集,遺物遺跡豐富,具有(you)重要的(de)科研價值(zhi)。