Meuse not generous with Roman past
Author: Harry Lindelauf
Photography: ARK Natuurontwikkeling
The Meuse has not been generous with finds from the Roman past during the Grensmaas works.
This becomes clear from the new exhibition in Kasteelhoeve Hartelstein in Itteren, where the archaeological finds are displayed in two rooms. Roman finds are absent.
They do exist: axes that were offered, a throwing spear (pilum, see photo) and some remains of roof tiles.
The Roman finds from the Grensmaas project are currently not exhibited in Hartelstein due to lack of space; they are stored in the Limburgs Museum in Venlo.
Jan Roymans, affiliated with the archaeological bureau RAAP, supervised the sand and gravel extraction for many years: “The axes from Roman times are hammered shut; they could no longer be used as axes. That indicates that they are offerings that were thrown into the Meuse.”
The iron part of the Roman throwing spear was found near Itteren. Other finds are rounded, worn pieces of Roman roof tiles. They may originate from the villa complex on Pasestraat in Borgharen, which was investigated in 1995 by the archaeological service of Maastricht. During that excavation, remains of a bathhouse were uncovered.
The Limburgs Museum is working on a major overview exhibition of the Grensmaas archaeology.
