The ash casket of the man from Bocholtz.

One of the most important archaeological discoveries in the Netherlands was made in Bocholtz. In 2003, farmer Hupperetz struck a large stone with his plough. This turned out to be one of the most spectacular finds ever uncovered in the Netherlands: the remains of a Roman grave chamber that still contained numerous grave goods. Moreover, never before had an ash casket been found inside a burial chamber in the Netherlands.

Inside the ash casket, several grave goods were discovered, including two strigiles (scrapers used to clean the skin), hunting equipment, and an oil lamp.

All these finds indicate that the grave belonged to a wealthy man. An analysis of the cremated remains revealed that he was between 20 and 34 years old when he died.

The ash casket was found in a tumulus, a burial mound. This points to the customs of the Tungri, a tribe that lived in the area around present-day Tongeren.