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Source (Dutch only): Restanten van Romeins schip gevonden bij aanleg van provinciale weg
NOS News - Domestic - yesterday, 20:34
Remains of Roman ship found during construction of provincial road
The discovered boards - Rhineland Route
During the construction of the Rijnlandroute near Valkenburg in South Holland, remains of a ship have been found that are believed to date back to the Roman era. It concerns planks that seem to belong to a 30 meter long cargo ship from the first century AD. Further research has yet to establish this.
The remains came to light during excavation work for a new provincial road. Project archaeologist René Isarin speaks of a stroke of luck. "Although we suspected that there might be a ship out there somewhere, the chances of actually finding something are extremely small," he says. "I myself had little faith in it."
This is a rare find for South Holland. "We know a lot about pottery and metal, but Roman boats are not found that often," says Isarin.
Mortise and tenon
What makes the find further special is the construction method of the ship. The planks point to a Mediterranean style. But they are made of oak, a type of wood from northwestern Europe that is not often used in ships from the Mediterranean, Isarin explains.
Moreover, traces of a so-called pin-hole technique can be found in the planks. "This is the first time we have found such a joint in a Roman flatboat," says archaeologist Isarin. "Most ships from the Roman period have nails and rivets. This is a very specific way to attach planks."
Archaeological research has yet to reveal the exact origin of the ship and what it was used for. The wood is also still being examined in order to determine the exact year the ship came from.
The remains of the Roman ship - Rhineland Route
The remains of the Roman ship - Rhineland Route
The place where the planks were found - Rhineland Route
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