Krinkelwinkel (2016)

Within the plan area Krinkelwinkel an overnight port will be built. In this context, Archeodienst carried out an exploratory soil survey on behalf of LievenseCSO Milieu BV. The drillings were described archaeologically before the samples for the soil survey were taken.

Krinkelwinkel seen from the Merwededijk (2016)

Elevations

An anthropogenic raised package of at least 5,0 to 6,5 m thick was found within the plan area. The fragments of pottery that were found date from the period 1450 - 1650 (1700). These fragments fit within the (cultural) historical context of the strongholds (17^e century) and the Merwededijk (16^e century) that occur at the level of the plan area. However, it is questionable whether the anthropogenic package can be directly linked to this cultural-historical context. It is quite possible that the soil originates from the Merwedehaven.

Pilots and vessels of the torpedo crew, stationed in the Willemskazerne ca. 1920

When the harbour was built at the end of the 19^e century, the excavated soil may have been used to raise the plan area and the terrain west of it. This could explain the strongly varying stratification between the different drillings.

Archaeological remains under the raised package cannot be ruled out. Traces of habitation may be present along and/or under the dike, especially if there are old riverbank deposits of the Merwede.

Swanpolder detail cadastral map Gorinchem 1881

No follow-up research

Based on the results of the study, two hypotheses have been formulated to explain the presence of the anthropogenic fill package.

1. The raising package is at the end of the 19^e century and consists of sediment that was excavated to realize the Merwedehaven. The archaeological indicators found are in that case secondary and cannot be linked to an archaeological site. In that case, the archaeological value of the site is low. The municipality may know whether (part of) the excavated soil was applied to the adjacent site at the time;
2. The raising package can be related to the bulwark from the 17^e century (and possibly the Merwededijk from the 16^e century). In that case, the archaeological value of the site is high.

The municipality joins the 1^e hypothesis that no further research is considered necessary.