GORINCHEM — The roots of a tree provided archaeologist Pieter Floore and the volunteers who are searching for the remains of House Paffenrode yesterday the surprise of the day. Between the winding protrusions they discovered a large quantity of eighteenth century tableware. "It almost looks like a complete set of dishes. It consists of red glazed earthenware and so-called majolica plates. This blue and white tableware was used as a decorative plate, but also as a dinner plate," says Floore.
At first it was not entirely clear where the tree had stood. One of the volunteers was able to determine the approximate location with the help of the workers who were working on the site. The tree appeared to have stood near the adjutant's residence.
Floore assumes that the tree may have stood on a cesspit, which caused the material dumped in it to end up between the roots. “The pottery is not very special for that time. Many people could afford it. In that period, for example, porcelain was only intended for the rich.” A twenty by twenty meter area was set out on the Kazerneplein yesterday. This area will be thoroughly investigated in the coming days. Some of the finds were cleaned and preserved on site, so that they can already be exhibited if there is a space available in Gorinchem.
The Dordrecht resident
August 13, 1997
by Anja Broeken