It is the first time in history that large-scale archaeological research can be carried out on the site of the former Naval Air Base Valkenburg. Due to its military function, the site was inaccessible for decades. However, the municipality has plans for the redevelopment of the area. And the Malta Convention prescribes that archaeological investigations must first be carried out in the event of disturbing soil activities.
Since the 1940s, the village of Valkenburg has been known as one of Europe's most important (Roman) archaeological sites. Archaeologists have therefore been looking forward to working on the airbase for a long time. Last month it finally happened. During the exploratory preliminary investigation, they carried out soil drilling and based on this they drew up a so-called forecast map. The results of the preliminary investigation do not lie; the archaeologists suspect that they not only find remains from the Roman period, but also from prehistory (Iron Age, Bronze Age and Young Stone Age), the Middle Ages and the New Age.
Limes
“The airfield is part of the Roman Limeszone (the border of the Roman Empire). We may just find part of the Limes again, or related Roman structures.” says Boudewijn Voormolen – archaeologist of the Municipality of Katwijk – enthusiastically. “I can imagine, for example, that we might find a Roman fortress, or other forms of defenses. Because there has actually been continuous habitation in these regions, there is a good chance that we will also find beautiful things from other eras. Think of trading settlements, roads, dams, and revetments.”
Water as a preservative
We can still see that people in the past also had to contend with water. The water level is high in the test trench that is open in front of us. “That is only beneficial for our research.” says archaeologist Adrie Tol, project leader of Archol. He points to a row of poles in the open pit. “Because the water level is so high, it actually acts as a kind of natural preservative. As a result, the wood, but also other organic objects in the soil, are well preserved. That bodes well for our research in the coming months! Who knows what spectacular finds we will find.”
Explosives
Because this is a former military site, care and safety are of the utmost importance. In addition to the archaeological forecast map, research was also carried out during the preliminary investigation into possible locations in the soil of unexploded explosives from the Second World War. These places are mainly situated within the old boundaries (until 1951) of the airport, in the middle area of the current airport site. The part where the archaeologists are currently excavating has been declared completely safe and released for archaeological research.
See further
- Treaty of Malta
- The Limes, frontier of the Roman Empire