八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao),原名永通橋(qiao)(qiao),因東距通州(zhou)8華里(li)而(er)被百姓俗稱八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)。如(ru)今(jin)地(di)鐵八(ba)通線、京哈高速路都從八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)邊經過(guo),每天人來車往(wang),川流不息,但知道這座古橋(qiao)(qiao)滄(cang)桑歷史的(de)(de)卻為(wei)數甚(shen)少。 歷史上(shang)拱(gong)(gong)衛京師的(de)(de)古橋(qiao)(qiao)有(you)三座,一(yi)為(wei)京西南(nan)的(de)(de)盧(lu)溝橋(qiao)(qiao),二為(wei)京北昌平的(de)(de)朝宗橋(qiao)(qiao),三為(wei)京東通州(zhou)區的(de)(de)八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(永通橋(qiao)(qiao))。 八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)建于明(ming)正統十一(yi)年(公元1446年),南(nan)北走向,橫(heng)跨(kua)通惠河,為(wei)石(shi)砌(qi)三券(quan)拱(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)。中間(jian)大券(quan)如(ru)虹,可通舟楫,兩(liang)旁小券(quan)對稱,呈(cheng)錯(cuo)落(luo)之(zhi)勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)上(shang)的(de)(de)每塊石(shi)頭之(zhi)間(jian)嵌鐵相連,十分堅(jian)固。
八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)南北長(chang)50米,東(dong)西(xi)寬16米。橋(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)兩(liang)側有(you)32副石(shi)欄(lan)板,板面(mian)上(shang)(shang)的(de)雕(diao)刻刀法流暢,粗獷(guang)有(you)力(li)。欄(lan)板上(shang)(shang)有(you)望柱33對,每個望柱上(shang)(shang)雕(diao)有(you)石(shi)獅。石(shi)獅形態各異,栩(xu)栩(xu)如生(sheng),可與盧(lu)溝橋(qiao)(qiao)石(shi)獅媲美。橋(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)西(xi)兩(liang)端各有(you)一對戧獸,長(chang)鬣密麟,昂首挺胸。護坡石(shi)上(shang)(shang)臥伏著四(si)只鎮水獸,扭頸(jing)傾(qing)頭,怒視碧波。橋(qiao)(qiao)南往(wang)東(dong)200米處(chu),立有(you)清雍正御制石(shi)道(dao)碑一座(zuo)。大橋(qiao)(qiao)兩(liang)岸,綠柳白楊,芳草萋萋,風景如畫。白天,憑欄(lan)東(dong)望,可見巍巍古城;夜晚(wan),扶(fu)欄(lan)觀水,細(xi)波之(zhi)中,月(yue)影(ying)婆娑,或(huo)如玉盤,或(huo)如銀(yin)鉤。若有(you)客航貨舟通(tong)過,槳碎玉盤,水折銀(yin)鉤,甚為壯觀。昔日(ri)的(de)通(tong)州八(ba)景之(zhi)一——長(chang)橋(qiao)(qiao)映(ying)月(yue),指的(de)就(jiu)是(shi)此地。
《明英宗實錄》:“正(zheng)統十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)八月(yue)(yue)(yue),建通(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)八里(li)(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),命(ming)工部右侍郎王(wang)(wang)永(yong)(yong)(yong)和(he)(he)督(du)(du)工。”又(you)(you)據《通(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)志(zhi)》:“八里(li)(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(ji)閘東(dong)(dong)。正(zheng)統十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)敕建,祭酒李時勉(mian)作記(ji)。”李時勉(mian)的(de)(de)永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)記(ji):“通(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)城西(xi)(xi)八里(li)(li)河(he),京都(dou)諸水匯(hui)流而東(dong)(dong)。河(he)雖不(bu)廣(guang),每(mei)夏秋之交雨水泛濫,常架木為(wei)(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),比舟為(wei)(wei)梁,數易輒(zhe)壞。內(nei)(nei)官監太(tai)(tai)監李德以(yi)(yi)聞于上,欲與其地(di)建石橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),乃命(ming)司禮監太(tai)(tai)監王(wang)(wang)振往經度之。總督(du)(du)漕運都(dou)督(du)(du)武興(xing)發漕卒,都(dou)指揮僉事陳信(xin)領之,工部尚書(shu)王(wang)(wang)巹會計(ji)經費,侍郎王(wang)(wang)永(yong)(yong)(yong)和(he)(he)提督(du)(du)之,又(you)(you)命(ming)內(nei)(nei)官監太(tai)(tai)監阮安總理之。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)五十(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)水道(dao)三(san)券,券與平底(di)石皆交互通(tong)(tong)(tong)貫,錮以(yi)(yi)鐵,分水石護(hu)以(yi)(yi)鐵柱,當其沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南北(bei)(bei)二百尺,兩旁皆以(yi)(yi)石為(wei)(wei)欄。表二坊(fang),題曰永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),蓋上所賜名也。又(you)(you)立(li)(li)廟以(yi)(yi)祀河(he)神。經始在(zai)(zai)正(zheng)統十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)八月(yue)(yue)(yue),告成于十(shi)二月(yue)(yue)(yue),明年(nian)(nian)三(san)月(yue)(yue)(yue)立(li)(li)石。”永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)歷經五百余年(nian)(nian),明清(qing)、民(min)國和(he)(he)八十(shi)年(nian)(nian)代(dai)屢加修葺,現狀(zhuang)為(wei)(wei)石砌三(san)孔拱(gong)券形(xing),南北(bei)(bei)走向。永(yong)(yong)(yong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾是東(dong)(dong)至(zhi)山海關、南至(zhi)天津(jin)陸路(lu)交通(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)咽喉,歷史上該地(di)曾進(jin)行(xing)過(guo)兩次大規(gui)模的(de)(de)中外戰(zhan)爭,第一(yi)(yi)次為(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860)英法侵(qin)略(lve)軍攻陷天津(jin)、通(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)后,清(qing)政府為(wei)(wei)保(bao)衛北(bei)(bei)京在(zai)(zai)這(zhe)里(li)(li)阻擊(ji)侵(qin)略(lve)軍,進(jin)行(xing)了(le)八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)戰(zhan)役。第二為(wei)(wei)光緒二十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(1900)八國聯軍入侵(qin)北(bei)(bei)京,義和(he)(he)團在(zai)(zai)八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)狠(hen)狠(hen)打(da)擊(ji)了(le)侵(qin)略(lve)者的(de)(de)囂張氣焰。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)京津(jin)公路(lu)北(bei)(bei)側(ce)有(you)雍正(zheng)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(1733)所立(li)(li)的(de)(de)“御制(zhi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)石道(dao)碑(bei)”一(yi)(yi)座,碑(bei)文(wen)記(ji)載了(le)當年(nian)(nian)修筑(zhu)朝陽關外石道(dao)之事。此碑(bei)列(lie)為(wei)(wei)區級(ji)文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)單位。另傳,村(cun)內(nei)(nei)曾住有(you)一(yi)(yi)海姓滿人(ren),共婦王(wang)(wang)碼(ma)漢卡氏為(wei)(wei)乾隆帝弘歷之乳母。雍正(zheng)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(1725)在(zai)(zai)此為(wei)(wei)其立(li)(li)有(you)一(yi)(yi)碑(bei),現已無存。
2013年5月,被(bei)國務院核定公布為第七批全(quan)國重點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位。
1994年4月(yue)(yue),北京大學考古系發(fa)掘隊對八里橋(qiao)進(jin)行了(le)搶救性發(fa)掘,揭露(lu)面積100平方米,清理灰坑14座。出土(tu)遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)中的(de)陶器(qi)有(you)夾砂灰陶、黑(hei)陶、紅褐陶及泥質陶,一(yi)些陶片上還發(fa)現有(you)刻劃符號或文(wen)字(zi),制(zhi)法(fa)為輪制(zhi)、手制(zhi)。器(qi)形(xing)有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器(qi)蓋等。石器(qi)多(duo)為殘(can)斷(duan)生(sheng)產工具(ju),磨制(zhi)粗糙。可辨類有(you):石鉞、石斧、石鏟等。這些為研究豫(yu)西南(nan)地區夏商時(shi)期的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)化、經(jing)濟狀況提供了(le)依據。 據考證,八里橋(qiao)遺(yi)(yi)址屬(shu)夏代,文(wen)化層堆積較(jiao)薄,內涵單一(yi),但灰坑分布相當密集,遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)遺(yi)(yi)跡豐富(fu),具(ju)有(you)重要的(de)科研價值。 為加強對這一(yi)遺(yi)(yi)址的(de)保(bao)護,進(jin)一(yi)步了(le)解(jie)這一(yi)時(shi)期的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)化、經(jing)濟狀況,今(jin)年6月(yue)(yue)份該遺(yi)(yi)址被列入(ru)河南(nan)省重點文(wen)物(wu)保(bao)護單位。
1994年4月,北京(jing)大學考(kao)(kao)古(gu)系發(fa)(fa)掘(jue)隊(dui)對八(ba)里橋進行了搶救性(xing)發(fa)(fa)掘(jue),揭(jie)露面積100平方米,清(qing)理灰(hui)坑(keng)14座。出土遺物(wu)中的(de)(de)陶(tao)器(qi)有(you)(you)夾砂灰(hui)陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及泥質陶(tao),一(yi)些陶(tao)片上還發(fa)(fa)現有(you)(you)刻劃符(fu)號或文字(zi),制(zhi)(zhi)法為(wei)輪制(zhi)(zhi)、手制(zhi)(zhi)。器(qi)形有(you)(you)大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵、器(qi)蓋等。石(shi)器(qi)多為(wei)殘斷生產工具,磨(mo)制(zhi)(zhi)粗糙(cao)。可辨類有(you)(you):石(shi)鉞、石(shi)斧(fu)、石(shi)鏟(chan)等。這些為(wei)研究豫(yu)西南(nan)地(di)區夏商時期的(de)(de)政(zheng)治(zhi)、文化、經濟狀(zhuang)況提供(gong)了依據。 據考(kao)(kao)證,八(ba)里橋遺址屬夏代,文化層(ceng)堆積較薄,內涵(han)單一(yi),但(dan)灰(hui)坑(keng)分布(bu)相當(dang)密集(ji),遺物(wu)遺跡豐富,具有(you)(you)重(zhong)要的(de)(de)科研價值。