八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),原名永(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因東(dong)距通(tong)(tong)(tong)州8華(hua)里而(er)被百姓俗稱(cheng)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。如今地鐵八(ba)通(tong)(tong)(tong)線、京哈高速路(lu)都從(cong)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)邊(bian)經過(guo),每(mei)天(tian)人來車往,川(chuan)流不息,但知道這(zhe)座古橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)滄桑歷(li)史的(de)卻為(wei)(wei)數甚少(shao)。 歷(li)史上拱(gong)衛(wei)京師的(de)古橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)有三座,一為(wei)(wei)京西(xi)南的(de)盧溝橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),二為(wei)(wei)京北昌平的(de)朝宗橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),三為(wei)(wei)京東(dong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)州區的(de)八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(永(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao))。 八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)建于明正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)一年(公元1446年),南北走向,橫跨通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河,為(wei)(wei)石砌三券拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。中間(jian)大(da)券如虹,可通(tong)(tong)(tong)舟楫,兩(liang)旁小(xiao)券對(dui)稱(cheng),呈(cheng)錯落之勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)上的(de)每(mei)塊石頭之間(jian)嵌鐵相連,十(shi)(shi)分堅固(gu)。
八里(li)橋(qiao)南北(bei)長50米,東西(xi)(xi)寬16米。橋(qiao)面(mian)兩(liang)側有(you)32副(fu)石(shi)欄板,板面(mian)上的雕刻刀法流(liu)暢,粗獷有(you)力。欄板上有(you)望(wang)柱(zhu)33對,每個望(wang)柱(zhu)上雕有(you)石(shi)獅。石(shi)獅形態(tai)各異,栩(xu)(xu)栩(xu)(xu)如生,可(ke)與盧(lu)溝橋(qiao)石(shi)獅媲美。橋(qiao)東西(xi)(xi)兩(liang)端各有(you)一(yi)對戧獸,長鬣(lie)密麟,昂首挺胸(xiong)。護(hu)坡石(shi)上臥伏著四只鎮水獸,扭頸(jing)傾頭,怒視碧波。橋(qiao)南往東200米處,立(li)有(you)清(qing)雍正御制石(shi)道碑(bei)一(yi)座。大橋(qiao)兩(liang)岸,綠柳白楊(yang),芳草萋萋,風景如畫。白天,憑欄東望(wang),可(ke)見巍(wei)巍(wei)古城(cheng);夜晚,扶欄觀(guan)水,細波之(zhi)中,月影婆娑,或(huo)如玉(yu)盤(pan)(pan),或(huo)如銀鉤。若有(you)客航貨(huo)舟通過,槳碎玉(yu)盤(pan)(pan),水折銀鉤,甚為壯(zhuang)觀(guan)。昔(xi)日(ri)的通州八景之(zhi)一(yi)——長橋(qiao)映月,指的就是(shi)此地。
《明英宗實錄》:“正(zheng)(zheng)統十(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月(yue),建通(tong)(tong)(tong)州八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),命工(gong)(gong)部右侍郎王(wang)永(yong)(yong)(yong)和督工(gong)(gong)。”又(you)據《通(tong)(tong)(tong)州志》:“八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)即永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),在(zai)(zai)普濟閘(zha)東(dong)(dong)。正(zheng)(zheng)統十(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)敕建,祭酒李(li)時勉作記(ji)。”李(li)時勉的永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)記(ji):“通(tong)(tong)(tong)州城西八(ba)(ba)里(li)河(he),京(jing)都(dou)(dou)諸水(shui)(shui)匯流而東(dong)(dong)。河(he)雖不(bu)廣,每(mei)夏秋之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)交(jiao)(jiao)雨水(shui)(shui)泛濫,常架(jia)木為(wei)(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),比舟為(wei)(wei)梁(liang),數(shu)易輒壞。內官監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)李(li)德(de)以(yi)聞于上,欲與其(qi)地建石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),乃命司禮監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)王(wang)振往經度之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。總督漕運都(dou)(dou)督武興(xing)發漕卒,都(dou)(dou)指揮僉事陳信(xin)領之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),工(gong)(gong)部尚書王(wang)巹會(hui)計經費,侍郎王(wang)永(yong)(yong)(yong)和提(ti)督之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),又(you)命內官監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)阮安(an)總理之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)西五十(shi)(shi)(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)水(shui)(shui)道(dao)三券,券與平底(di)石(shi)皆(jie)交(jiao)(jiao)互(hu)通(tong)(tong)(tong)貫(guan),錮以(yi)鐵,分水(shui)(shui)石(shi)護以(yi)鐵柱,當其(qi)沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南北二(er)百(bai)尺,兩旁皆(jie)以(yi)石(shi)為(wei)(wei)欄(lan)。表二(er)坊(fang),題(ti)曰永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),蓋(gai)上所(suo)賜名(ming)也。又(you)立(li)廟以(yi)祀河(he)神。經始在(zai)(zai)正(zheng)(zheng)統十(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月(yue),告成(cheng)于十(shi)(shi)(shi)二(er)月(yue),明年(nian)(nian)三月(yue)立(li)石(shi)。”永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)歷經五百(bai)余年(nian)(nian),明清、民(min)國和八(ba)(ba)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)代屢(lv)加修(xiu)葺(qi),現(xian)狀為(wei)(wei)石(shi)砌三孔拱(gong)券形,南北走向。永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾(ceng)是(shi)東(dong)(dong)至山海關、南至天津(jin)陸路交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)(tong)的咽喉,歷史上該地曾(ceng)進行(xing)(xing)過兩次大規(gui)模(mo)的中外戰(zhan)爭,第一(yi)次為(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860)英法侵(qin)略軍(jun)(jun)攻陷天津(jin)、通(tong)(tong)(tong)州后,清政(zheng)府為(wei)(wei)保衛北京(jing)在(zai)(zai)這里(li)阻擊侵(qin)略軍(jun)(jun),進行(xing)(xing)了八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)戰(zhan)役。第二(er)為(wei)(wei)光緒二(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)國聯軍(jun)(jun)入侵(qin)北京(jing),義和團在(zai)(zai)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)狠(hen)狠(hen)打擊了侵(qin)略者(zhe)的囂張氣焰。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)京(jing)津(jin)公路北側有(you)雍正(zheng)(zheng)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(1733)所(suo)立(li)的“御制通(tong)(tong)(tong)州石(shi)道(dao)碑(bei)(bei)”一(yi)座,碑(bei)(bei)文(wen)記(ji)載了當年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)筑(zhu)朝陽(yang)關外石(shi)道(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事。此碑(bei)(bei)列為(wei)(wei)區級(ji)文(wen)物保護單位。另(ling)傳,村內曾(ceng)住有(you)一(yi)海姓滿人,共(gong)婦王(wang)碼漢卡氏為(wei)(wei)乾(qian)隆帝弘(hong)歷之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)乳母。雍正(zheng)(zheng)三年(nian)(nian)(1725)在(zai)(zai)此為(wei)(wei)其(qi)立(li)有(you)一(yi)碑(bei)(bei),現(xian)已無存。
2013年5月,被國務院核定公布為第七(qi)批全(quan)國重點文物保護單位。
1994年4月(yue),北京(jing)大學考(kao)古系發掘(jue)隊對(dui)八里(li)橋(qiao)進行了(le)搶救性發掘(jue),揭露(lu)面(mian)積100平方米,清理(li)灰坑14座。出土遺(yi)物(wu)中的陶(tao)器(qi)有夾(jia)砂灰陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及泥質(zhi)陶(tao),一(yi)些陶(tao)片上(shang)還發現有刻劃符號(hao)或文(wen)(wen)字,制(zhi)法為輪制(zhi)、手制(zhi)。器(qi)形有大口尊(zun)、罐、鼎(ding)、豆、爵、器(qi)蓋(gai)等。石器(qi)多為殘(can)斷(duan)生產(chan)工具(ju),磨制(zhi)粗糙。可辨類有:石鉞(yue)、石斧(fu)、石鏟等。這些為研究豫(yu)西南地區夏商時期的政(zheng)治(zhi)、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀況提供了(le)依據(ju)。 據(ju)考(kao)證,八里(li)橋(qiao)遺(yi)址屬夏代(dai),文(wen)(wen)化(hua)層堆(dui)積較薄,內涵單一(yi),但灰坑分布相當密集(ji),遺(yi)物(wu)遺(yi)跡豐富,具(ju)有重要(yao)的科研價值。 為加(jia)強對(dui)這一(yi)遺(yi)址的保(bao)(bao)護,進一(yi)步(bu)了(le)解這一(yi)時期的政(zheng)治(zhi)、文(wen)(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀況,今年6月(yue)份(fen)該遺(yi)址被(bei)列入河南省重點文(wen)(wen)物(wu)保(bao)(bao)護單位。
1994年4月,北京(jing)大學考古系發(fa)掘隊對八(ba)里橋進行了搶救(jiu)性(xing)發(fa)掘,揭露面積(ji)100平(ping)方米,清理灰(hui)(hui)坑14座。出土(tu)遺(yi)物(wu)中的(de)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)器(qi)有夾砂灰(hui)(hui)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、黑陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、紅(hong)褐(he)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)及泥質陶(tao)(tao)(tao),一些(xie)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)片上還(huan)發(fa)現有刻劃符(fu)號或文(wen)字,制法為(wei)(wei)輪制、手制。器(qi)形有大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器(qi)蓋等。石器(qi)多為(wei)(wei)殘(can)斷生產工具(ju),磨制粗糙。可辨類有:石鉞、石斧(fu)、石鏟等。這些(xie)為(wei)(wei)研究豫(yu)西南地區(qu)夏商(shang)時期的(de)政(zheng)治、文(wen)化、經濟狀況提供了依據。 據考證,八(ba)里橋遺(yi)址屬夏代,文(wen)化層堆積(ji)較薄,內涵單(dan)一,但灰(hui)(hui)坑分(fen)布相(xiang)當密(mi)集,遺(yi)物(wu)遺(yi)跡豐富,具(ju)有重要的(de)科研價值。