Groenmarkt 8 (2003)

Green Market 8

Commissioned by housing association Pallisade, an excavation took place at the Groenmarkt 2003 location in August and September 8. Based on the results of an earlier drilling survey and a test trench survey, in combination with archaeological demolition supervision, it was decided to carry out a definitive archaeological survey at the locations where new construction was planned and where in situ preservation of the site was not possible.

The excavation site at the Groenmarkt in 1882

Guest house

The preliminary investigations showed that archaeological remains from the early urban development of Gorinchem were to be expected. The oldest 14^e-century remains consist mainly of a number of ditches that indicate habitation with a strong agricultural character. The more recent remains include considerable stone structures, timber construction, wattle and daub, pits, ale cellars and the like.

Detailed map by Joan Blaeu showing the buildings in the area next to the Gasthuisgang

Historical research has shown that from the beginning of the 14^e until the end of the 16^e century, a guesthouse stood there, which these finds are probably related to. Of the various buildings that belonged to this guesthouse, there is still one building in the vicinity of the research site. The most recent wall remains and traces can be dated from the 17^e-18^e century and can be linked to urban habitation after the relocation of the guesthouse to the Haarstraat.

Digging between the piles of the previous construction

Writing pens

A special discovery consisted of 65 metal and bone writing pens 1Veen, MCW (2011)
Writing pens from Gorinchem, in: Western home 60, p. 298 – 300
PDF (1,3 MB) that were found together in one pit. Especially the traces from the 13^e all 15^e century yielded many well-preserved finds, including a lot of pottery, bone material, metal and leather objects, such as several shoes and a fragment of a sword sheath. Because of the many layers of manure, cesspits and the like that were found, ecological research was also carried out to obtain more information about the development of the city in the Middle Ages.