八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao),原名永通(tong)橋(qiao),因東距通(tong)州8華(hua)里(li)而被百姓(xing)俗稱(cheng)八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)。如(ru)今地鐵八(ba)通(tong)線(xian)、京(jing)(jing)哈高速路(lu)都從(cong)八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)邊經(jing)過(guo),每天人來車往,川流不息,但知道這座古橋(qiao)滄桑歷史的卻為(wei)(wei)數甚少(shao)。 歷史上拱(gong)衛京(jing)(jing)師的古橋(qiao)有三座,一為(wei)(wei)京(jing)(jing)西南的盧溝橋(qiao),二為(wei)(wei)京(jing)(jing)北昌平的朝(chao)宗橋(qiao),三為(wei)(wei)京(jing)(jing)東通(tong)州區的八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(永通(tong)橋(qiao))。 八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)建于明正統十(shi)一年(nian)(公元(yuan)1446年(nian)),南北走向,橫跨通(tong)惠河,為(wei)(wei)石(shi)砌三券(quan)拱(gong)橋(qiao)。中間大(da)券(quan)如(ru)虹,可通(tong)舟楫,兩旁小券(quan)對(dui)稱(cheng),呈錯落(luo)之(zhi)勢(shi)。橋(qiao)上的每塊(kuai)石(shi)頭之(zhi)間嵌鐵相連,十(shi)分堅固。
八里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南(nan)北長(chang)50米,東(dong)西寬16米。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)兩(liang)側有(you)(you)(you)32副石欄板(ban),板(ban)面(mian)上(shang)的(de)雕刻刀法流暢,粗獷有(you)(you)(you)力(li)。欄板(ban)上(shang)有(you)(you)(you)望(wang)柱33對,每(mei)個望(wang)柱上(shang)雕有(you)(you)(you)石獅(shi)。石獅(shi)形(xing)態(tai)各異(yi),栩栩如(ru)(ru)生,可與盧溝橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)石獅(shi)媲(pi)美。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)西兩(liang)端各有(you)(you)(you)一(yi)對戧獸,長(chang)鬣密麟,昂首挺胸。護坡石上(shang)臥伏(fu)著四只鎮水(shui)獸,扭(niu)頸傾頭,怒視(shi)碧波。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南(nan)往東(dong)200米處,立有(you)(you)(you)清(qing)雍(yong)正御制石道碑一(yi)座。大橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)兩(liang)岸,綠柳白楊,芳草萋萋,風(feng)景如(ru)(ru)畫。白天,憑(ping)欄東(dong)望(wang),可見巍(wei)巍(wei)古城;夜晚,扶(fu)欄觀水(shui),細波之(zhi)中(zhong),月影婆(po)娑,或(huo)如(ru)(ru)玉(yu)盤,或(huo)如(ru)(ru)銀鉤(gou)。若(ruo)有(you)(you)(you)客航貨舟通過,槳(jiang)碎玉(yu)盤,水(shui)折(zhe)銀鉤(gou),甚為壯觀。昔日的(de)通州八景之(zhi)一(yi)——長(chang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)映(ying)月,指的(de)就是此地。
《明(ming)英宗(zong)實錄》:“正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月,建(jian)通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)(zhou)八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao),命工部右(you)侍郎(lang)王永(yong)和(he)(he)督(du)工。”又(you)據《通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)(zhou)志》:“八(ba)(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)即(ji)永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao),在普(pu)濟閘東(dong)(dong)。正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)敕(chi)建(jian),祭酒李時勉(mian)作記。”李時勉(mian)的永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)記:“通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)(zhou)城西八(ba)(ba)里(li)河(he)(he),京都(dou)諸水匯流而東(dong)(dong)。河(he)(he)雖不(bu)廣,每夏秋(qiu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)交(jiao)(jiao)雨水泛濫,常架木為(wei)(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao),比舟為(wei)(wei)梁,數易輒壞。內官監(jian)太監(jian)李德(de)以(yi)聞(wen)于上,欲與(yu)其(qi)地建(jian)石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao),乃命司禮(li)監(jian)太監(jian)王振往經度之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。總督(du)漕(cao)運(yun)都(dou)督(du)武興發(fa)漕(cao)卒,都(dou)指揮(hui)僉事(shi)陳信領之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),工部尚書王巹會計經費,侍郎(lang)王永(yong)和(he)(he)提(ti)督(du)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),又(you)命內官監(jian)太監(jian)阮安總理之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)西五(wu)十(shi)丈,為(wei)(wei)水道三(san)券(quan),券(quan)與(yu)平底石(shi)(shi)皆交(jiao)(jiao)互通(tong)(tong)貫,錮以(yi)鐵,分水石(shi)(shi)護(hu)以(yi)鐵柱,當其(qi)沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)南北二(er)(er)百(bai)(bai)尺,兩旁皆以(yi)石(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)欄。表二(er)(er)坊(fang),題曰永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao),蓋(gai)上所賜名(ming)也。又(you)立廟(miao)以(yi)祀河(he)(he)神(shen)。經始在正(zheng)統(tong)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)八(ba)(ba)月,告成(cheng)于十(shi)二(er)(er)月,明(ming)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)三(san)月立石(shi)(shi)。”永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)歷經五(wu)百(bai)(bai)余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),明(ming)清、民國(guo)和(he)(he)八(ba)(ba)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)屢加(jia)修(xiu)葺,現狀為(wei)(wei)石(shi)(shi)砌三(san)孔拱(gong)券(quan)形,南北走向(xiang)。永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)曾是東(dong)(dong)至(zhi)山海關、南至(zhi)天津陸路交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong)(tong)的咽喉(hou),歷史上該地曾進行過兩次大(da)規模的中外戰(zhan)爭,第一(yi)(yi)次為(wei)(wei)咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860)英法侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)軍攻陷天津、通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)(zhou)后,清政(zheng)府為(wei)(wei)保(bao)衛北京在這里(li)阻(zu)擊侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)軍,進行了(le)八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)戰(zhan)役。第二(er)(er)為(wei)(wei)光緒二(er)(er)十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)國(guo)聯軍入侵(qin)(qin)北京,義和(he)(he)團在八(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)狠狠打擊了(le)侵(qin)(qin)略(lve)者的囂張氣焰。橋(qiao)(qiao)東(dong)(dong)京津公路北側(ce)有雍(yong)正(zheng)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1733)所立的“御制通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)(zhou)石(shi)(shi)道碑(bei)”一(yi)(yi)座,碑(bei)文(wen)記載了(le)當年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)筑朝陽關外石(shi)(shi)道之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事(shi)。此(ci)碑(bei)列為(wei)(wei)區級文(wen)物保(bao)護(hu)單位。另傳(chuan),村內曾住(zhu)有一(yi)(yi)海姓(xing)滿人,共(gong)婦王碼漢卡氏(shi)為(wei)(wei)乾隆(long)帝弘歷之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)乳母(mu)。雍(yong)正(zheng)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1725)在此(ci)為(wei)(wei)其(qi)立有一(yi)(yi)碑(bei),現已無(wu)存(cun)。
2013年5月,被國(guo)務院核定公布為第七批(pi)全國(guo)重點文(wen)物(wu)保護單位。
1994年(nian)4月(yue),北京(jing)大學考(kao)古系發(fa)掘隊對八里(li)橋(qiao)進行了(le)搶救性發(fa)掘,揭露面(mian)積(ji)100平方(fang)米,清(qing)理灰(hui)坑(keng)(keng)14座。出土遺(yi)(yi)(yi)物中的(de)(de)陶(tao)器有(you)夾砂灰(hui)陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐陶(tao)及(ji)泥(ni)質陶(tao),一(yi)(yi)些陶(tao)片上還發(fa)現有(you)刻劃符號或(huo)文(wen)字,制(zhi)法(fa)為(wei)輪制(zhi)、手(shou)制(zhi)。器形有(you)大口尊、罐、鼎(ding)、豆、爵、器蓋等。石器多為(wei)殘(can)斷生產工具(ju),磨(mo)制(zhi)粗糙。可辨(bian)類有(you):石鉞、石斧、石鏟等。這些為(wei)研究豫西南地區夏商(shang)時期(qi)的(de)(de)政治、文(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀況提供(gong)了(le)依據。 據考(kao)證,八里(li)橋(qiao)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址(zhi)屬(shu)夏代,文(wen)化(hua)層堆積(ji)較薄(bo),內涵單(dan)一(yi)(yi),但灰(hui)坑(keng)(keng)分(fen)布相當密(mi)集,遺(yi)(yi)(yi)物遺(yi)(yi)(yi)跡豐富,具(ju)有(you)重要(yao)的(de)(de)科(ke)研價值。 為(wei)加強對這一(yi)(yi)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址(zhi)的(de)(de)保(bao)護(hu),進一(yi)(yi)步了(le)解這一(yi)(yi)時期(qi)的(de)(de)政治、文(wen)化(hua)、經濟狀況,今(jin)年(nian)6月(yue)份該遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址(zhi)被列入河南省重點(dian)文(wen)物保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位。
1994年4月,北京大學考古(gu)系發掘(jue)(jue)隊對八(ba)里(li)橋進(jin)行了搶救性發掘(jue)(jue),揭露面積(ji)100平方米,清理(li)灰(hui)坑14座。出土遺物中的(de)陶(tao)器有夾砂灰(hui)陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅褐(he)陶(tao)及泥質陶(tao),一(yi)些(xie)陶(tao)片(pian)上還發現(xian)有刻(ke)劃符號(hao)或文(wen)字,制法(fa)為輪制、手制。器形有大口尊、罐、鼎、豆、爵(jue)、器蓋(gai)等。石(shi)器多(duo)為殘斷生(sheng)產工具(ju),磨制粗糙。可辨類有:石(shi)鉞、石(shi)斧、石(shi)鏟(chan)等。這些(xie)為研究豫(yu)西(xi)南地區(qu)夏商時期(qi)的(de)政治(zhi)、文(wen)化(hua)、經濟(ji)狀況(kuang)提供了依(yi)據。 據考證,八(ba)里(li)橋遺址屬夏代,文(wen)化(hua)層(ceng)堆積(ji)較薄,內(nei)涵單一(yi),但灰(hui)坑分布(bu)相當密集(ji),遺物遺跡(ji)豐富,具(ju)有重要的(de)科研價值(zhi)。