八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),原名永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因(yin)東距通(tong)(tong)州8華(hua)里(li)而(er)被百(bai)姓俗稱(cheng)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。如今地鐵八(ba)(ba)通(tong)(tong)線(xian)、京(jing)(jing)哈高(gao)速路都(dou)從(cong)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)邊經過,每天人來車往,川流不息,但知道這座(zuo)古橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)滄桑歷史的(de)(de)卻(que)為數甚(shen)少(shao)。 歷史上拱衛京(jing)(jing)師的(de)(de)古橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)有三座(zuo),一為京(jing)(jing)西(xi)南(nan)的(de)(de)盧溝(gou)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),二為京(jing)(jing)北昌平(ping)的(de)(de)朝宗橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),三為京(jing)(jing)東通(tong)(tong)州區的(de)(de)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao))。 八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)建于明正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(公元1446年(nian)),南(nan)北走(zou)向,橫(heng)跨通(tong)(tong)惠河(he),為石(shi)砌三券拱橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。中間大(da)券如虹,可通(tong)(tong)舟楫(ji),兩旁小券對稱(cheng),呈(cheng)錯落之勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)上的(de)(de)每塊石(shi)頭之間嵌鐵相連,十(shi)(shi)分堅固。
八里橋南北(bei)長(chang)50米,東西(xi)寬16米。橋面(mian)兩側有(you)32副石(shi)欄(lan)板(ban),板(ban)面(mian)上的(de)雕刻刀法流暢,粗獷有(you)力。欄(lan)板(ban)上有(you)望(wang)柱33對,每個望(wang)柱上雕有(you)石(shi)獅。石(shi)獅形態各(ge)異,栩栩如生,可與盧溝橋石(shi)獅媲美。橋東西(xi)兩端各(ge)有(you)一(yi)對戧獸,長(chang)鬣密麟(lin),昂首挺(ting)胸。護坡石(shi)上臥(wo)伏著四只鎮水獸,扭頸傾頭,怒視(shi)碧(bi)波。橋南往東200米處(chu),立(li)有(you)清雍正(zheng)御制石(shi)道碑(bei)一(yi)座。大橋兩岸,綠柳白楊,芳草(cao)萋(qi)(qi)萋(qi)(qi),風景如畫。白天,憑欄(lan)東望(wang),可見(jian)巍(wei)巍(wei)古城;夜晚,扶欄(lan)觀水,細波之中,月(yue)影婆娑(suo),或如玉盤(pan),或如銀鉤(gou)。若(ruo)有(you)客航貨舟(zhou)通過,槳碎玉盤(pan),水折銀鉤(gou),甚為壯觀。昔(xi)日的(de)通州八景之一(yi)——長(chang)橋映月(yue),指的(de)就是此(ci)地。
《明(ming)英(ying)宗實錄》:“正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月,建通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)八(ba)(ba)里莊(zhuang)橋(qiao),命工部右侍(shi)郎王(wang)(wang)永(yong)和督工。”又據《通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)志(zhi)》:“八(ba)(ba)里莊(zhuang)橋(qiao)即永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao),在(zai)(zai)普濟閘東(dong)。正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)敕建,祭酒李時勉作記(ji)(ji)。”李時勉的(de)(de)永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)記(ji)(ji):“通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)城西(xi)八(ba)(ba)里河(he)(he),京(jing)(jing)都諸水匯流而東(dong)。河(he)(he)雖不廣,每夏秋之(zhi)交雨水泛(fan)濫(lan),常架木為(wei)(wei)(wei)橋(qiao),比舟為(wei)(wei)(wei)梁,數易輒壞。內官(guan)監(jian)太(tai)監(jian)李德以(yi)(yi)聞于(yu)上,欲與(yu)其地(di)建石橋(qiao),乃命司禮監(jian)太(tai)監(jian)王(wang)(wang)振往經度之(zhi)。總(zong)督漕運都督武興(xing)發(fa)漕卒(zu),都指揮僉事陳信領之(zhi),工部尚(shang)書王(wang)(wang)巹會計經費,侍(shi)郎王(wang)(wang)永(yong)和提督之(zhi),又命內官(guan)監(jian)太(tai)監(jian)阮安總(zong)理之(zhi)。橋(qiao)東(dong)西(xi)五十(shi)(shi)(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)(wei)水道(dao)三券,券與(yu)平底石皆(jie)交互通(tong)(tong)貫(guan),錮以(yi)(yi)鐵,分水石護以(yi)(yi)鐵柱,當其沖(chong),橋(qiao)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)二(er)百尺,兩旁皆(jie)以(yi)(yi)石為(wei)(wei)(wei)欄。表二(er)坊,題曰永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao),蓋(gai)上所(suo)賜名也。又立(li)(li)(li)廟以(yi)(yi)祀河(he)(he)神。經始在(zai)(zai)正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月,告成于(yu)十(shi)(shi)(shi)二(er)月,明(ming)年(nian)(nian)三月立(li)(li)(li)石。”永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)歷經五百余(yu)年(nian)(nian),明(ming)清、民(min)國(guo)和八(ba)(ba)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)代(dai)屢加修葺,現狀為(wei)(wei)(wei)石砌(qi)三孔拱券形,南(nan)(nan)北(bei)(bei)走向(xiang)。永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)曾是東(dong)至(zhi)山海(hai)關、南(nan)(nan)至(zhi)天津(jin)(jin)陸路交通(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)咽喉,歷史上該地(di)曾進行過(guo)兩次大規模(mo)的(de)(de)中外戰爭,第一次為(wei)(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860)英(ying)法侵(qin)略(lve)軍攻陷天津(jin)(jin)、通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)后,清政府為(wei)(wei)(wei)保(bao)衛北(bei)(bei)京(jing)(jing)在(zai)(zai)這(zhe)里阻擊侵(qin)略(lve)軍,進行了(le)(le)八(ba)(ba)里橋(qiao)戰役。第二(er)為(wei)(wei)(wei)光緒二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)國(guo)聯軍入(ru)侵(qin)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)(jing),義和團在(zai)(zai)八(ba)(ba)里橋(qiao)狠狠打擊了(le)(le)侵(qin)略(lve)者(zhe)的(de)(de)囂張氣焰。橋(qiao)東(dong)京(jing)(jing)津(jin)(jin)公路北(bei)(bei)側(ce)有(you)雍(yong)正(zheng)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(1733)所(suo)立(li)(li)(li)的(de)(de)“御制通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)石道(dao)碑”一座(zuo),碑文(wen)記(ji)(ji)載了(le)(le)當年(nian)(nian)修筑朝陽(yang)關外石道(dao)之(zhi)事。此碑列為(wei)(wei)(wei)區級文(wen)物保(bao)護單位。另傳(chuan),村(cun)內曾住有(you)一海(hai)姓滿人(ren),共(gong)婦王(wang)(wang)碼漢(han)卡(ka)氏為(wei)(wei)(wei)乾隆(long)帝弘(hong)歷之(zhi)乳(ru)母。雍(yong)正(zheng)三年(nian)(nian)(1725)在(zai)(zai)此為(wei)(wei)(wei)其立(li)(li)(li)有(you)一碑,現已無(wu)存(cun)。
2013年5月,被(bei)國(guo)務(wu)院核定(ding)公(gong)布為第七批(pi)全(quan)國(guo)重點文物保護單位。
1994年4月(yue)(yue),北京(jing)大學考古系(xi)發掘(jue)(jue)隊對八里橋進行了搶(qiang)救性發掘(jue)(jue),揭露面積100平方米,清理灰坑14座。出土遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)中的(de)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)器有(you)夾(jia)砂灰陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、黑(hei)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、紅(hong)褐陶(tao)(tao)(tao)及(ji)泥質陶(tao)(tao)(tao),一(yi)些(xie)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)片(pian)上還發現有(you)刻(ke)劃符號或(huo)文(wen)(wen)字,制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)法為(wei)輪制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)、手制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。器形有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器蓋(gai)等(deng)。石(shi)(shi)器多為(wei)殘斷生產工具(ju),磨制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)粗(cu)糙(cao)。可辨類有(you):石(shi)(shi)鉞、石(shi)(shi)斧(fu)、石(shi)(shi)鏟等(deng)。這些(xie)為(wei)研究豫西南(nan)(nan)地(di)區夏(xia)商(shang)時期(qi)的(de)政(zheng)治、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)、經濟狀況(kuang)提供了依(yi)據。 據考證,八里橋遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)屬夏(xia)代,文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)層堆(dui)積較薄,內涵單一(yi),但灰坑分布(bu)相當密集,遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)(wu)(wu)遺(yi)(yi)跡豐(feng)富,具(ju)有(you)重要的(de)科研價值。 為(wei)加強對這一(yi)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)的(de)保(bao)護,進一(yi)步了解這一(yi)時期(qi)的(de)政(zheng)治、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)(hua)(hua)、經濟狀況(kuang),今年6月(yue)(yue)份該遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)被列入河南(nan)(nan)省(sheng)重點文(wen)(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單位。
1994年4月,北京(jing)大學考古系發掘(jue)隊對八(ba)(ba)里橋進(jin)行了(le)搶救性(xing)發掘(jue),揭(jie)露面(mian)積(ji)100平方米,清(qing)理灰(hui)坑14座。出土遺物中的(de)(de)陶(tao)器有(you)夾砂灰(hui)陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及泥質陶(tao),一(yi)(yi)些陶(tao)片上還發現(xian)有(you)刻(ke)劃符號或文(wen)字,制法為輪制、手制。器形有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎(ding)、豆、爵、器蓋等。石(shi)器多為殘斷生產工具(ju),磨制粗糙。可辨(bian)類(lei)有(you):石(shi)鉞、石(shi)斧、石(shi)鏟等。這些為研究豫西南地區夏商時(shi)期的(de)(de)政治、文(wen)化、經濟狀況提供(gong)了(le)依據。 據考證,八(ba)(ba)里橋遺址(zhi)屬夏代(dai),文(wen)化層堆積(ji)較(jiao)薄,內(nei)涵單一(yi)(yi),但(dan)灰(hui)坑分布相當密集,遺物遺跡(ji)豐(feng)富,具(ju)有(you)重(zhong)要的(de)(de)科研價值。