Merwededijk, near 80 (2012)

Merwededijk 2012 plan area

BAAC bv conducted an archaeological desk study and mapping drilling survey for the Merwededijk plan area in Gorinchem in 2012. Based on the desk study, there is a high expectation of archaeological remains for the plan area. These remains may occur in the riverbank of the Waal (Roman period-present) and in the riverbank of the Gorkum-Arkel stream belt (Mesolithic-Roman period).

The field investigation could only be carried out for the northern half of the plot due to the safety zone of the primary flood defence. However, excavation work in connection with the planned new construction also only took place in the northern half. Two possible archaeological levels were found during the field investigation. At ground level, riverbank deposits of the Waal are present. In the subsurface, channel fills of the Gorkum-Arkel stream belt are present. A low archaeological expectation applies to the channel deposits. In principle, a high archaeological expectation applies to the riverbank deposits of the Waal.

However, no archaeological indicators were found during the field research and the northern part of the site falls outside the historical building strip and the (historical) Merwededijk. The archaeological expectation for the northern part of the plan area could therefore be adjusted downwards to low. No follow-up research was necessary here.

For the southern part of the plot that was not investigated by means of drilling, it was advised to include an archaeological dual designation. This part of the terrain could contain historical habitation remains and historical dike bodies. If plans are developed in the future to carry out excavation work here, an archaeological field investigation should be carried out here. This part of the terrain was raised as part of the dike reinforcement. Only the raised material would be excavated. Any archaeological remains that were present could be preserved in situ in the plans in 2012, which meant that further investigation was not necessary at that time.