Treasure trove of 3,000 items unearthed during landscaping work

Archaeologists have uncovered a treasure trove of more than 3,000 artefacts, some dating back to the Stone Age, during landscaping work in Drenthe.

The haul includes a fibula, a pin used to fasten clothing before the advent of the button, believed to be from the third or fourth century CE, and a gold ring from the ninth or 10th century, as well as tools from the Stone and Bronze ages.

Other items date from the Eighty Years’ War, which led to Dutch independence from Spain in 1648, and the Second World War. Some 600 of the artefacts are said to be in “exceptional condition”.

The haul was found during excavation work at the Nieuwe Drostendiep, a water channel between the villages of Sleen and Oosterhesselen, around 10km west of Emmen.

“We are proud of the rich history of our beautiful Drenthe and our unique landscape,” said provincial deputy Yvonne Turenhout, who is responsible for revitalising nature. “This remarkable discovery emphasises its value even more.”

The municipal council in Coevorden and the province will now consider how to put the items on public display once they have been inspected and cleaned by a specialist archaeological agency.

New water course

Drenthe’s provincial government is rebuilding the water course, which was straightened and partly filled in during the 20th century to reclaim the land for farming.

But after heavy rain caused the area to flood in 2014, the province consulted with farmers and nature conservation bodies such as Natuurmonumenten to create a 300-hectare wetland area.

The zone is intended to stimulate a more diverse population of plants and birds, including breeding pairs, and contain floodwaters.