八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao),原名(ming)永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao),因東(dong)距通(tong)州8華(hua)里(li)(li)而被百(bai)姓俗稱八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)。如今地鐵八通(tong)線、京(jing)哈高速路都(dou)從(cong)八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)邊經(jing)過,每天人來車往,川(chuan)流不息,但知道這座古(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)滄桑(sang)歷史的(de)(de)(de)卻為(wei)數甚少。 歷史上(shang)拱衛京(jing)師的(de)(de)(de)古(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)有三(san)座,一為(wei)京(jing)西(xi)南(nan)的(de)(de)(de)盧溝橋(qiao)(qiao),二為(wei)京(jing)北(bei)昌平的(de)(de)(de)朝(chao)宗橋(qiao)(qiao),三(san)為(wei)京(jing)東(dong)通(tong)州區的(de)(de)(de)八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao))。 八里(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)建(jian)于明正統十一年(nian)(公元1446年(nian)),南(nan)北(bei)走向(xiang),橫(heng)跨通(tong)惠河(he),為(wei)石砌三(san)券拱橋(qiao)(qiao)。中(zhong)間大券如虹(hong),可通(tong)舟楫,兩旁(pang)小券對稱,呈(cheng)錯落之勢(shi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)每塊石頭之間嵌鐵相(xiang)連,十分堅固(gu)。
八里(li)橋(qiao)南北長50米,東(dong)(dong)西寬16米。橋(qiao)面兩(liang)側有(you)(you)32副(fu)石欄板(ban),板(ban)面上(shang)(shang)(shang)的雕(diao)刻刀(dao)法流(liu)暢,粗獷有(you)(you)力。欄板(ban)上(shang)(shang)(shang)有(you)(you)望柱(zhu)33對,每(mei)個(ge)望柱(zhu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)雕(diao)有(you)(you)石獅。石獅形態各異,栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)(ru)生(sheng),可(ke)與盧溝橋(qiao)石獅媲美。橋(qiao)東(dong)(dong)西兩(liang)端(duan)各有(you)(you)一(yi)對戧獸,長鬣密麟,昂(ang)首挺(ting)胸(xiong)。護(hu)坡(po)石上(shang)(shang)(shang)臥伏著四只鎮水獸,扭頸傾頭(tou),怒視碧波(bo)。橋(qiao)南往(wang)東(dong)(dong)200米處,立有(you)(you)清雍正御制石道碑一(yi)座。大橋(qiao)兩(liang)岸,綠柳(liu)白(bai)(bai)楊,芳草(cao)萋(qi)萋(qi),風景(jing)如(ru)(ru)畫。白(bai)(bai)天(tian),憑(ping)欄東(dong)(dong)望,可(ke)見巍(wei)巍(wei)古城;夜晚,扶欄觀水,細波(bo)之(zhi)中,月影婆娑,或(huo)如(ru)(ru)玉盤,或(huo)如(ru)(ru)銀鉤。若有(you)(you)客航貨舟(zhou)通(tong)(tong)過,槳碎(sui)玉盤,水折(zhe)銀鉤,甚(shen)為壯(zhuang)觀。昔日的通(tong)(tong)州八景(jing)之(zhi)一(yi)——長橋(qiao)映月,指的就是(shi)此地(di)。
《明英(ying)宗(zong)實錄》:“正統(tong)十一年(nian)八(ba)(ba)(ba)月(yue),建(jian)(jian)通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)莊(zhuang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),命(ming)(ming)工(gong)部(bu)右(you)侍郎王永(yong)和(he)(he)督工(gong)。”又(you)據《通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)志》:“八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)莊(zhuang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)即永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),在(zai)(zai)普濟閘(zha)東。正統(tong)十一年(nian)敕建(jian)(jian),祭酒(jiu)李(li)時勉作(zuo)記。”李(li)時勉的(de)永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)記:“通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)城(cheng)西(xi)八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)河(he),京(jing)都諸水(shui)匯流而東。河(he)雖不(bu)廣,每夏(xia)秋之交雨水(shui)泛濫,常(chang)架木為(wei)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),比(bi)舟為(wei)梁,數易輒壞。內官(guan)(guan)監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)李(li)德(de)以(yi)(yi)聞于上,欲與其(qi)地(di)建(jian)(jian)石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),乃命(ming)(ming)司(si)禮監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)王振往經(jing)(jing)度之。總督漕(cao)運都督武興(xing)發漕(cao)卒(zu),都指揮(hui)僉事(shi)陳信(xin)領之,工(gong)部(bu)尚書王巹會計經(jing)(jing)費,侍郎王永(yong)和(he)(he)提督之,又(you)命(ming)(ming)內官(guan)(guan)監(jian)(jian)太(tai)監(jian)(jian)阮安總理之。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東西(xi)五十丈,為(wei)水(shui)道三券,券與平底石(shi)(shi)(shi)皆(jie)交互(hu)通(tong)(tong)貫(guan),錮(gu)以(yi)(yi)鐵,分水(shui)石(shi)(shi)(shi)護以(yi)(yi)鐵柱,當其(qi)沖,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南北(bei)(bei)二(er)百尺,兩旁皆(jie)以(yi)(yi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)欄。表(biao)二(er)坊,題曰(yue)永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),蓋上所賜名也。又(you)立(li)廟以(yi)(yi)祀河(he)神。經(jing)(jing)始在(zai)(zai)正統(tong)十一年(nian)八(ba)(ba)(ba)月(yue),告成于十二(er)月(yue),明年(nian)三月(yue)立(li)石(shi)(shi)(shi)。”永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)歷經(jing)(jing)五百余年(nian),明清、民(min)國(guo)和(he)(he)八(ba)(ba)(ba)十年(nian)代(dai)屢加修(xiu)葺,現(xian)狀為(wei)石(shi)(shi)(shi)砌三孔拱券形,南北(bei)(bei)走(zou)向。永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾(ceng)是東至(zhi)山海關、南至(zhi)天津(jin)陸路交通(tong)(tong)的(de)咽喉,歷史上該地(di)曾(ceng)進(jin)行過(guo)兩次(ci)大規模的(de)中外戰爭(zheng),第(di)一次(ci)為(wei)咸豐(feng)十年(nian)(1860)英(ying)法侵(qin)略軍(jun)攻陷天津(jin)、通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)后,清政府為(wei)保衛(wei)北(bei)(bei)京(jing)在(zai)(zai)這里(li)阻擊侵(qin)略軍(jun),進(jin)行了(le)八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)戰役。第(di)二(er)為(wei)光緒二(er)十六年(nian)(1900)八(ba)(ba)(ba)國(guo)聯軍(jun)入(ru)侵(qin)北(bei)(bei)京(jing),義(yi)和(he)(he)團在(zai)(zai)八(ba)(ba)(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)狠狠打擊了(le)侵(qin)略者的(de)囂張氣焰(yan)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)東京(jing)津(jin)公路北(bei)(bei)側(ce)有雍(yong)正十一年(nian)(1733)所立(li)的(de)“御(yu)制通(tong)(tong)州(zhou)石(shi)(shi)(shi)道碑(bei)”一座,碑(bei)文(wen)(wen)記載了(le)當年(nian)修(xiu)筑朝陽關外石(shi)(shi)(shi)道之事(shi)。此(ci)碑(bei)列為(wei)區級文(wen)(wen)物(wu)保護單位。另傳,村內曾(ceng)住有一海姓(xing)滿人,共婦王碼漢卡氏為(wei)乾隆帝弘歷之乳(ru)母(mu)。雍(yong)正三年(nian)(1725)在(zai)(zai)此(ci)為(wei)其(qi)立(li)有一碑(bei),現(xian)已無存(cun)。
2013年5月,被國務(wu)院核定公(gong)布(bu)為(wei)第七(qi)批(pi)全國重點文(wen)物保護(hu)單位。
1994年4月,北京大學考古系發掘隊對八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)進(jin)行(xing)了搶救性(xing)發掘,揭露面積(ji)100平方米,清理灰坑(keng)(keng)14座。出土遺(yi)(yi)(yi)物中的(de)陶器有(you)(you)(you)夾(jia)砂灰陶、黑陶、紅褐陶及泥質陶,一(yi)些陶片上還發現有(you)(you)(you)刻劃(hua)符號或文字,制(zhi)法為(wei)輪制(zhi)、手制(zhi)。器形有(you)(you)(you)大口尊、罐(guan)、鼎(ding)、豆、爵、器蓋等(deng)。石(shi)器多為(wei)殘斷生產工具(ju),磨制(zhi)粗糙。可辨類有(you)(you)(you):石(shi)鉞、石(shi)斧、石(shi)鏟等(deng)。這些為(wei)研究豫西南地區夏(xia)商時期的(de)政(zheng)治、文化、經(jing)濟狀(zhuang)況提供了依據。 據考證,八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址屬夏(xia)代,文化層(ceng)堆積(ji)較薄,內涵單(dan)一(yi),但灰坑(keng)(keng)分(fen)布相當密集,遺(yi)(yi)(yi)物遺(yi)(yi)(yi)跡豐富,具(ju)有(you)(you)(you)重(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)的(de)科(ke)研價值。 為(wei)加強對這一(yi)遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址的(de)保(bao)護,進(jin)一(yi)步了解(jie)這一(yi)時期的(de)政(zheng)治、文化、經(jing)濟狀(zhuang)況,今年6月份該遺(yi)(yi)(yi)址被列入河南省重(zhong)(zhong)點文物保(bao)護單(dan)位。
1994年4月,北(bei)京(jing)大(da)學(xue)考古系發掘(jue)隊對八里(li)橋進行了搶救性發掘(jue),揭露(lu)面積100平方(fang)米(mi),清理灰(hui)坑14座(zuo)。出(chu)土遺物中的陶(tao)器有(you)夾(jia)砂灰(hui)陶(tao)、黑陶(tao)、紅(hong)褐陶(tao)及泥(ni)質陶(tao),一些(xie)陶(tao)片上(shang)還發現有(you)刻(ke)劃符(fu)號或文字,制(zhi)法為輪制(zhi)、手制(zhi)。器形(xing)有(you)大(da)口尊(zun)、罐、鼎、豆、爵(jue)、器蓋(gai)等。石器多為殘斷生產工具(ju),磨(mo)制(zhi)粗糙。可辨(bian)類有(you):石鉞、石斧、石鏟等。這些(xie)為研究豫西(xi)南地區(qu)夏商(shang)時期的政(zheng)治、文化、經濟狀(zhuang)況提(ti)供了依(yi)據。 據考證,八里(li)橋遺址屬(shu)夏代,文化層堆積較薄(bo),內涵單一,但灰(hui)坑分布相當(dang)密集,遺物遺跡豐(feng)富,具(ju)有(you)重(zhong)要的科研價值。