八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)(li)橋,原名永通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋,因東(dong)距通(tong)(tong)(tong)州8華里(li)(li)而被百姓俗稱八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)(li)橋。如今地鐵八(ba)(ba)(ba)通(tong)(tong)(tong)線(xian)、京哈(ha)高速路都(dou)從八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)(li)橋邊經過(guo),每(mei)天人來車往,川(chuan)流不息,但知(zhi)道(dao)這(zhe)座古橋滄桑歷史的(de)(de)卻為(wei)數甚少。 歷史上(shang)(shang)拱(gong)(gong)衛京師的(de)(de)古橋有(you)三座,一為(wei)京西南的(de)(de)盧溝(gou)橋,二為(wei)京北(bei)昌(chang)平的(de)(de)朝宗橋,三為(wei)京東(dong)通(tong)(tong)(tong)州區的(de)(de)八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)(li)橋(永通(tong)(tong)(tong)橋)。 八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)(li)橋建(jian)于明正統(tong)十一年(公元1446年),南北(bei)走(zou)向,橫跨通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河,為(wei)石(shi)砌三券(quan)(quan)拱(gong)(gong)橋。中(zhong)間大券(quan)(quan)如虹,可通(tong)(tong)(tong)舟楫,兩旁小(xiao)券(quan)(quan)對稱,呈錯(cuo)落之(zhi)勢。橋上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)每(mei)塊石(shi)頭之(zhi)間嵌(qian)鐵相連(lian),十分堅固。
八(ba)里橋(qiao)(qiao)南北(bei)長50米(mi),東西寬16米(mi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)面兩側有(you)32副石欄板(ban),板(ban)面上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)雕(diao)刻刀法流暢,粗獷有(you)力。欄板(ban)上(shang)(shang)有(you)望柱(zhu)33對,每個(ge)望柱(zhu)上(shang)(shang)雕(diao)有(you)石獅(shi)。石獅(shi)形態各異,栩(xu)栩(xu)如生,可與盧(lu)溝橋(qiao)(qiao)石獅(shi)媲美。橋(qiao)(qiao)東西兩端各有(you)一對戧獸(shou),長鬣密麟,昂首(shou)挺胸。護坡石上(shang)(shang)臥伏著(zhu)四(si)只鎮水獸(shou),扭頸傾(qing)頭,怒(nu)視碧波(bo)。橋(qiao)(qiao)南往東200米(mi)處,立有(you)清雍正御制石道(dao)碑一座。大橋(qiao)(qiao)兩岸,綠柳(liu)白(bai)楊,芳草(cao)萋萋,風景(jing)如畫。白(bai)天(tian),憑欄東望,可見巍巍古城;夜晚,扶欄觀水,細波(bo)之中,月影婆娑,或(huo)如玉(yu)盤,或(huo)如銀(yin)鉤。若有(you)客航貨(huo)舟通(tong)過,槳碎玉(yu)盤,水折銀(yin)鉤,甚為壯觀。昔日的(de)(de)通(tong)州(zhou)八(ba)景(jing)之一——長橋(qiao)(qiao)映(ying)月,指(zhi)的(de)(de)就是(shi)此地。
《明英宗實錄》:“正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)月,建通州八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)莊(zhuang)橋(qiao)(qiao),命工(gong)部(bu)右侍郎王永(yong)(yong)(yong)和(he)(he)(he)督工(gong)。”又據《通州志》:“八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)莊(zhuang)橋(qiao)(qiao)即永(yong)(yong)(yong)通橋(qiao)(qiao),在(zai)普濟閘東。正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)敕建,祭(ji)酒李(li)時(shi)勉作記(ji)。”李(li)時(shi)勉的永(yong)(yong)(yong)通橋(qiao)(qiao)記(ji):“通州城西八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)河(he),京(jing)都(dou)諸水(shui)(shui)匯流而東。河(he)雖不廣,每(mei)夏秋之(zhi)(zhi)交雨水(shui)(shui)泛濫,常架木(mu)為(wei)(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao),比(bi)舟為(wei)(wei)梁,數易輒壞。內官監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)李(li)德以(yi)聞(wen)于上(shang),欲與其(qi)地建石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao),乃命司禮監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)王振往經(jing)(jing)度(du)之(zhi)(zhi)。總(zong)督漕運(yun)都(dou)督武興發漕卒,都(dou)指揮僉事陳信領之(zhi)(zhi),工(gong)部(bu)尚書王巹會計(ji)經(jing)(jing)費,侍郎王永(yong)(yong)(yong)和(he)(he)(he)提督之(zhi)(zhi),又命內官監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)阮安(an)總(zong)理之(zhi)(zhi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)東西五十(shi)(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)水(shui)(shui)道三券,券與平底(di)石(shi)(shi)皆交互通貫,錮以(yi)鐵,分水(shui)(shui)石(shi)(shi)護以(yi)鐵柱,當(dang)其(qi)沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)南(nan)北(bei)(bei)二(er)百(bai)尺(chi),兩旁皆以(yi)石(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)欄。表二(er)坊,題曰永(yong)(yong)(yong)通橋(qiao)(qiao),蓋上(shang)所賜名也。又立廟以(yi)祀河(he)神。經(jing)(jing)始在(zai)正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)月,告成于十(shi)(shi)二(er)月,明年(nian)(nian)三月立石(shi)(shi)。”永(yong)(yong)(yong)通橋(qiao)(qiao)歷經(jing)(jing)五百(bai)余年(nian)(nian),明清、民國和(he)(he)(he)八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)代屢(lv)加(jia)修(xiu)葺,現(xian)狀為(wei)(wei)石(shi)(shi)砌三孔拱券形,南(nan)北(bei)(bei)走向。永(yong)(yong)(yong)通橋(qiao)(qiao)曾是東至山海關、南(nan)至天津陸(lu)路交通的咽(yan)喉,歷史上(shang)該(gai)地曾進行過兩次(ci)大(da)規模(mo)的中外戰(zhan)爭,第一(yi)次(ci)為(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860)英法侵略軍(jun)攻陷天津、通州后,清政府為(wei)(wei)保(bao)衛北(bei)(bei)京(jing)在(zai)這里(li)阻擊(ji)侵略軍(jun),進行了八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)戰(zhan)役。第二(er)為(wei)(wei)光緒二(er)十(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)國聯軍(jun)入(ru)侵北(bei)(bei)京(jing),義(yi)和(he)(he)(he)團(tuan)在(zai)八(ba)(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)狠狠打擊(ji)了侵略者(zhe)的囂張(zhang)氣焰。橋(qiao)(qiao)東京(jing)津公路北(bei)(bei)側有(you)雍正十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(1733)所立的“御制通州石(shi)(shi)道碑(bei)(bei)”一(yi)座,碑(bei)(bei)文記(ji)載(zai)了當(dang)年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)筑朝陽(yang)關外石(shi)(shi)道之(zhi)(zhi)事。此(ci)碑(bei)(bei)列(lie)為(wei)(wei)區級文物保(bao)護單位。另傳,村(cun)內曾住有(you)一(yi)海姓滿人,共婦王碼漢卡氏(shi)為(wei)(wei)乾隆帝弘歷之(zhi)(zhi)乳母。雍正三年(nian)(nian)(1725)在(zai)此(ci)為(wei)(wei)其(qi)立有(you)一(yi)碑(bei)(bei),現(xian)已(yi)無存。
2013年5月,被國務院(yuan)核定公布為(wei)第七批全國重點文(wen)物保護單位。
1994年4月(yue),北京大學考(kao)古系發掘隊對(dui)八里(li)橋進行(xing)了搶救性發掘,揭露(lu)面(mian)積(ji)100平(ping)方米,清(qing)理(li)灰坑(keng)14座。出土遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)中的陶(tao)器(qi)有(you)夾砂灰陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及泥質陶(tao),一些陶(tao)片上還發現有(you)刻劃符號或文(wen)字,制法(fa)為(wei)(wei)輪制、手(shou)制。器(qi)形有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎、豆(dou)、爵、器(qi)蓋等(deng)。石器(qi)多(duo)為(wei)(wei)殘(can)斷生產工具(ju),磨制粗糙。可(ke)辨類有(you):石鉞、石斧(fu)、石鏟等(deng)。這些為(wei)(wei)研(yan)究豫西南(nan)地區夏商時(shi)期(qi)的政(zheng)治、文(wen)化、經濟狀況提供了依據。 據考(kao)證,八里(li)橋遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)屬夏代,文(wen)化層堆積(ji)較薄,內涵單(dan)一,但(dan)灰坑(keng)分布相當密集(ji),遺(yi)(yi)物(wu)遺(yi)(yi)跡豐富,具(ju)有(you)重要的科研(yan)價值。 為(wei)(wei)加強對(dui)這一遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)的保護(hu),進一步了解這一時(shi)期(qi)的政(zheng)治、文(wen)化、經濟狀況,今年6月(yue)份該(gai)遺(yi)(yi)址(zhi)被列入(ru)河南(nan)省(sheng)重點文(wen)物(wu)保護(hu)單(dan)位。
1994年(nian)4月,北京(jing)大(da)學考古系(xi)發掘隊對八里橋進行了搶救性發掘,揭露面積100平方(fang)米,清理灰(hui)(hui)坑14座(zuo)。出土遺(yi)物(wu)中的(de)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)器有(you)夾砂(sha)灰(hui)(hui)陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、黑陶(tao)(tao)(tao)、紅(hong)褐陶(tao)(tao)(tao)及(ji)泥質陶(tao)(tao)(tao),一些陶(tao)(tao)(tao)片上還(huan)發現有(you)刻劃符號或文(wen)字,制法為輪(lun)制、手制。器形有(you)大(da)口尊、罐、鼎(ding)、豆、爵、器蓋等。石(shi)器多為殘(can)斷生產工具,磨制粗糙。可辨類有(you):石(shi)鉞、石(shi)斧、石(shi)鏟等。這(zhe)些為研究(jiu)豫(yu)西南(nan)地(di)區(qu)夏商(shang)時期(qi)的(de)政治、文(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀況提供了依據(ju)。 據(ju)考證,八里橋遺(yi)址(zhi)屬(shu)夏代,文(wen)化(hua)層(ceng)堆積較薄,內涵(han)單(dan)一,但灰(hui)(hui)坑分布相(xiang)當密集,遺(yi)物(wu)遺(yi)跡(ji)豐富(fu),具有(you)重要(yao)的(de)科研價值。