GORINCHEM – Archaeologists have found traces of wooden buildings from the 14th century in the city center of Gorinchem.e century. “This is quite exceptional,” says Tim Hoogendijk of Hollandia Archaeologists from Zaandijk.
The discovery of a wooden foundation beam at the research location on the corner of Arkelstraat and Rosmolensteeg is extra special, because these are rarely found in Gorinchem. Once before in 2002 during excavations in the Chalk Street At the site where the V&D now stands, archaeologists found an impressive wooden foundation beam.
Wooden foundation beam found during excavation of Bluebandhuis on Arkelstraat
The "slipper" as such a beam is also called, was quite close to the surface. We were here very quickly in soil layers from the 13de in 14de century,” says archaeologist Hoogendijk. “traces from later times, particularly from the 17de in 18de century, there are hardly any. They were most likely dug up during the development of the plot and disappeared.
Annual rings
Hoogendijk is pleased with the discovery of the foundation beam. Not only the type of wood can shed light on a piece of Gorcum's city history. The annual rings in the wood are an excellent tool for dating the discovery. Moreover, it gives the researchers additional information about the question of where exactly Gorcumers lived in the fourteenth century. Halfway through the 14de In the 17th century, Gorinchem received its city walls and gates, an infrastructure that is still largely intact today.
Hoogendijk, his colleagues and the volunteers of the Archaeology Working Group have not yet found any traces of the horse mill, which gave the alley its name. A horse mill is a milling installation powered by a horse. The first and so far only traces of a horse mill were found during archaeological research in 2005. “I wonder if we will find them. It is not clear where the mill was located,” says Hoogendijk. The archaeologist still holds out hope, because the plot where the Bluebandhuis stood, has only been mapped halfway. The archaeologists and volunteers have until next Friday to map the entire site.
The first week of research has also yielded some nice objects. Among other things, a virtually undamaged water jug of grey-fired earthenware emerged from the greasy clay. Similar jugs were also found during other excavations in the city. A small dagger was also found near the Arkelstraat.
Anja Broeken
AD Rivierenland
05-11-2011