Unique project launched: Heerlen digs viewing windows into history
Author: Harry Lindelauf
Photography: Harry Lindelauf, Anja Neskens en Annemiek Mommers
On Sunday, June 18, Heerlen gave the starting signal for a remarkable archaeological project: for the first time in the Netherlands, residents and archaeologists will work together in the city centre to dig “viewing windows” in search of remains from the Roman past.
A total of 25 excavation sites have been designated in the Roman Quarter, where eventually 150 volunteers will be ready to sift the excavated soil and clean the finds. Recruitment of volunteers is going well; organisers are still looking for garden owners who would like to dig a viewing window of one by one metre. The pits will be about one metre deep — the level at which Roman remains are expected.
First digging
The official start of the project Heel Heerlen Graaft took shape through the first symbolic digging by its advocates and initiators.
Jeanet Bruil of the funding organisation NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research) and alderman Jordy Clemens began digging on the square in front of the town hall.
In the Ir. Dinger Garden near the APG office, ABP director Ollivier Trouw and Saskia Stevens of Utrecht University took up the spades. Saskia Stevens is involved in the project Constructing the Limes. The excavations in Heerlen are expected to help build an understanding of, for example, the trade between the forts along the Roman frontier and the settlements in the hinterland such as Coriovallum (Heerlen). In addition, the hope is to gain more insight into the nature and size of the Roman settlement of Coriovallum.
DNA research
The two pits started on June 18 will be completed by professional archaeologists. Professionals will also assess the excavation results. Remarkably, attempts will also be made to extract DNA from bone and plant remains. These may provide information about, for example, the diet and diseases of the inhabitants during the Roman period.
A day full of activities
The launch of Heel Heerlen Graaft was surrounded by numerous activities such as the new exhibition The Discovery of Coriovallum in De Vondst and children’s workshops in the Thermenmuseum and the Roman picking garden.
Major excavation in September
The main excavation days of Heel Heerlen Graaft will take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.
The project is a collaboration between the Municipality of Heerlen, Constructing the Limes, NWO, the Thermenmuseum, Restaura and De Vondst, LGOG, and numerous volunteers.
Register or find more information at www.heerlen.nl/heelheerlengraaft.
