GORINCHEM — The thieves who last week started the excavation at the 17e-century House Paffenrode in Gorinchem, are probably professionals. That is the conclusion archaeologist Martin Veen draws from the way they went about their work.
During the theft, which took place on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the heavy digging shovel was first removed from the excavator that the members of the archaeological working group had parked on the excavation as a security measure. Then glass and pottery were carefully dug out. "Professional treasure hunters were very likely at work," says Veen. It is not clear what exactly was stolen, but Veen suspects that it concerns special 17th-century glass and pottery.
"We had found a lot of shards at the bottom of a beer barrel, a buried wine barrel that used to serve as a waste bin, but we hadn't had time to dig them out. Because we were afraid that someone would plunder the barrel, we had covered it with the excavator. In vain."
The shards left behind – which the looters were not interested in – show that it was expensive glass and pottery for that time. “A pristine example can now fetch around a thousand guilders.” According to Veen, it is becoming increasingly common for excavations to be plundered. “There is quite a bit of money involved in that world.” Also during the excavations last year at the Happy Corner and at it castle of the Lords of Arkel others struck in the evening and at night. “I'm afraid we'll have to hire a security company next time.”
Veen regrets the loss for the city. "We don't know exactly what is gone, but this could have been important for Gorinchem. We are now missing a piece of Paffenrode's history." The rest of the finds are still in the possession of the archaeologists, who took their 'loot' to a safe place every day.
The excavation work has now stopped. Next Saturday (Open Monument Day) finds will be exhibited in the mill 'De Hoop'
The Dordrecht resident
September 9, 1997