The Romans Go Back to School
Author: Harry Lindelauf
Photography: Harry Lindelauf
It is 2024. The pupils of primary school De Veldhof are ready to meet their very distant ancestors — the Romans. Thanks to a special project, the Romans are coming back to school.
The “Romans” today are Miriam Souren and Frans Essers — not from Rome, but from Eijsden and Kerkrade, dressed in modern clothes. Their story is about the Romans who once lived in the villa of Voerendaal. The story is told through a specially made presentation shown on the classroom’s smartboard, in teacher Dennis Voorst’s class.
And of course, the Romans truly come to life thanks to the finds from their Roman suitcase — replicas of artefacts discovered at the villa site in Voerendaal. Thanks to 3D photography and 3D printing, these replicas are indistinguishable from the originals. As a highlight, the suitcase also contains authentic Roman finds, such as a fragment of a 2,000-year-old roof tile.
Bananas and a Key
The pupils of class 7A at De Veldhof School in Eygelshoven learn about what the Romans brought with them.
When Miriam asks what crops farmers might have grown in those days, the question sparks some interesting answers.
Among the good guesses comes the suggestion that they might have grown bananas — quickly countered by another pupil:
“Of course not, they come from a tropical island!”
The first Roman object to be passed around is a large key.
Using a model door and lock, Frans Essers demonstrates the ingenious way in which Roman locks and keys worked.
Later, a Roman coin depicting “a kind of king,” a bronze wine strainer, and a roof tile fragment make their way through the classroom.
The highlight is a replica of the head of the Lady of Voerendaal, passed around at full size.
The original is carved from sandstone, but the lightweight plastic copy is almost impossible to tell apart.
The Importance of Preserving Heritage
The travelling suitcase project comes from Restaura in Heerlen, where archaeological finds are conserved and restored.
Its purpose is to introduce more people to the finds from the villa of Voerendaal.
The children also see in the presentation how a restorer cleans and preserves artefacts.
Another goal is to help young people understand the importance of cultural heritage.
The project “travelling suitcases” is funded by contributions from the VSB Fund, Cultural Fund, Mondriaan Fund, and the Province of Limburg.
Your Own Rock Painting
For De Veldhof School, the Roman visit is part of a lesson programme that links art and history.
Dorieke Schreurs from Vazom (Free Academy Parkstad) teaches the lessons, in which pupils — for example, when learning about prehistoric rock paintings — made their own paint and then created their own 21st-century rock painting.
In Eygelshoven, after an hour and a half of time travel, Miriam Souren wraps up the lesson.
When asked what they thought of it, the pupils respond with a shy “fun.”
Perhaps their attention has already shifted outside — where something as rare today as the Romans inside is waiting: snow.
