Groenmarkt (2010)

The intention of the municipality of Gorinchem to fit against the rear facade of the Gorcum Museum to place several underground waste containers on the Groenmarkt, was the direct reason for carrying out an archaeological excavation (AO) at this location. The research was carried out in April 2010 by Hollandia Archaeologists.

The Groenmarkt ca. 1650 by J. Beerstraten

Seven centuries back in time

On a surface of no more than 35 m² numerous remains were found, in a stratification that reached almost 3 m deep and seven centuries back in time. The oldest objects are a few pottery fragments from the 10^de until the first half of the 13^de century, which ended up as a dig in a younger raised package. The layers – and an associated peat and ditch – possibly date from the second half of the 14th century^de century.

Above this, another layer of elevation was found, which may have been formed at the end of the 14th century.^de century. During this period Gorinchem experienced a period of prosperity, with an increasing number of buildings being constructed in stone. The devastating fire of 1388, in which a large part of the city went up in flames, greatly accelerated this process of petrification. A solid layer of elevation possibly formed the basis for these new buildings.

Cemetery

At the end of the 14^de century, this part of the Groenmarkt came into use as a cemetery. 37 burials were found in the excavation pits. A brief physical anthropological investigation confirmed what the relatively small dimensions of the coffins already suggested: more than half of the buried individuals died at a young age. This shows that the burial of young deceased people took place in a specific part of the cemetery.

Phasing of burials found, the red line shows the foundation of the old town hall

Town Hall

In 1437, Dirk van Leuven's warehouse was converted into a town hall after the old town hall in the Hoogstraat was damaged in a city fire. A wall foundation that was found is the remains of a renovation at the end of the 16^de century (1591-1593). A shift is visible in the location of the burials that corresponds with the expansion of the town hall. The graves were therefore very close to the town hall, until the construction of a wall around the churchyard, probably around 1600. As early as 1608, the churchyard east of the church fell into disuse, after it was paved. This is where the market was held, from which the Groenmarkt takes its name.

The town hall was demolished in 1859 and replaced by a neoclassical styled successor, which was built almost exactly on the ground plan of the old town hall. The discharge of waste and rainwater took place via underground gutters, some of which were found during the investigation. Two water wells, with an origin in the 17^de-18^de century, were possibly provided with a new superstructure during the reconstruction of the town hall. The town hall would retain its function until 1994.

The town hall, weigh house and the meat hall by Caspar Philips (ca. 1695 – 1775)

Waag

The weigh house at the town hall also had a very long lifespan. The first mention dates back to 1392. During the renovation of the town hall at the end of the 16^de century, the weighing house was incorporated into the town hall. In 1921, a weighbridge was built outside the town hall to weigh motorized freight transport. The trough of this weighbridge was found in the excavation pit.