Until the 17th century, the Dutch coastal region of Zeeland ranked among Europe's most urbanized areas, driven by thriving international trade networks. People living in this time of flourishing... Show moreUntil the 17th century, the Dutch coastal region of Zeeland ranked among Europe's most urbanized areas, driven by thriving international trade networks. People living in this time of flourishing economy benefitted enormously from it in terms of employment opportunities and working conditions, which were reportedly better than in the rest of the Low Countries. However, the rapid growth of Zeeland's urban centers likely presented increasing challenges for the population in terms of accessing essential resources, including food, clean water, and housing. In the 19th century, Zeeland's economy ultimately faced a significant downturn due to the decline in the maritime trade, leading to a substantial reduction in its urban population. Examining patterns of urbanization and economic histories that differ from the commonly studied thriving industrial contexts in bioarcheological research, as exemplified by Zeeland, is a crucial yet relatively underexplored facet in our efforts to understanding the human past. To address this gap, this study investigates the impact of urbanization on the health of Zeeland's inhabitants over time by analyzing nonspecific stress markers (i.e., cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, and linear enamel hypoplasia) and chronic maxillary sinusitis in a sample of 246 individuals from three urban sites dating from 1030 to 1800 CE. Our analysis of skeletal remains reveals significant differences in the prevalence of porotic hyperostosis, linear enamel hypoplasia, and sinusitis between the medieval and post-medieval periods. These findings suggest that de-urbanization and economic decline adversely affected the health and well-being of the populations under study, influenced by factors such as working conditions and food availability. This study provides a new perspective on bioarcheological approaches to urbanization, shedding light on the intricate realities of urbanization in Zeeland and offering important insights into its complexities. Show less
Casna, M.; Schats, R.; Hoogland, M.L.P.; Schrader, S.A. 2023
In 1727 the Dutch United East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC) ship Zeewijk wrecked in the Pelsaert Group of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.This report details the methodology... Show moreIn 1727 the Dutch United East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC) ship Zeewijk wrecked in the Pelsaert Group of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands.This report details the methodology, outputs and conclusions of a 2022 field survey conducted between 11 and 17 March 2022. The primary aim was to create a 3D record of the Zeewijk (1727) shipwreck site using photogrammetry. The work would allow for a critical assessment of Mr Hugh Edwards’ claim of finding the wreck of Aagtekerke (1726) on the same site as Zeewijk. It would also better visualise the site for research, management, and public interpretation purposes. The fieldwork successfully mapped the widely dispersed Zeewijk shipwreck site on the inner (inside lagoon) and outer reef (in the surf zone) using digital cameras and GPS positioning. It resulted in significant new findings allowing a re-evaluation of the total count of all iron cannon and anchors in the offshore reef, and inshore lagoon areas.This work, when combined with findings of the earlier ‘Roaring Forties Project’ (Paterson et al. 2019), and more recent research undertaken by the Western Australian (WA) Museum, provides convincing evidence that there is only one shipwreck on the Zeewijk site, and negates the hypothesis of two VOC shipwrecks present within the Pelsaert Group. The resulting updated corpus of high-resolution digital imagery, 3D models and site data will greatly facilitate future studies, public interpretation outputs and on-going site monitoring and management of this highly significant Dutch-Australian mutual heritage site. It is gratefully acknowledged that the field work was primarily funded by a grant from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (GCE-2019-03), with additional funding support provided through the WA Museum/Australian Government’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Program and Flinders University’s Maritime Archaeology Program. Transport, logistics and local knowledge to enable safe access to the Zeewijk site were provided by the Liddon family. Show less
Article about Middle Iron Age (500-250 BC) cemeteries in the Southern- Netherlands, the Rhineland and Flanders. It presents an overview of the current state of research in this area. It is a first... Show moreArticle about Middle Iron Age (500-250 BC) cemeteries in the Southern- Netherlands, the Rhineland and Flanders. It presents an overview of the current state of research in this area. It is a first attempt to systematically review claims about the burial ritual based on a dataset of 67 sites. It discusses aspects of the burial ritual such as monument building, burial gifts and grave types. It also briefly discusses elite graves in the area. Show less
The river area Maaskant and adjacent sand area of Oss, located ‘between’ the current course of the river Meuse and the city Oss, are among the most intensively researched regions in the Netherlands... Show moreThe river area Maaskant and adjacent sand area of Oss, located ‘between’ the current course of the river Meuse and the city Oss, are among the most intensively researched regions in the Netherlands. Extensive archaeological and palynological research provides ample opportunities for an interregional research of the occupation and vegetation history of both areas. This article describes the intertwinement between the Holocene river area and the adjacent Pleistocene sandy soils, to eventually get a first insight of the relation(s) between the inhabitants of both regions in late prehistoric and Early Roman period (3000 BC – 250 AD). Show less
