Medieval canal with a surprising amount of water

atlasvoice

Over the past three weeks, an excavation was carried out in the Knipsteeg in Gorinchem. Based on the preliminary investigation and the results of the excavation at the Krijtstraat in 2002, expectations to learn more about the 15th century Grand School were very high.

Despite the fact that nothing of this school was found during the excavation work, the preliminary results of the research at the Knipsteeg are no less spectacular. In the coming months, the excavation agency The Sample further elaborate all research data.

Ditch

In the first week of the excavation, foundations of 17th century houses were mainly investigated. When a new surface was laid, a surprise followed: completely unexpectedly, groundwater bubbled from the bottom of the well. Project leader Hans Veenstra was shocked by the amount: "It seemed for a moment as if we had accidentally hit a main water pipe". It was then decided not to dig any deeper. After all, further disruption of the groundwater balance could cause damage to the foundations of the neighbouring houses.

The researchers had found an old medieval canal, estimated to be about nine meters wide, which originally ran parallel to the Knipsteeg and on which houses were built centuries later. Historian Bert Stamkot had previously suspected 1Stamkot, B. (2018)
Townscape in the late Middle Ages, in: F. Cerutti, R. Mulder, B. Stamkot & A. de Vries (eds.), Ten centuries of Gorinchem. History of a Dutch city, Utrecht, p. 115. a medieval parcel ditch at this location. The ditch may have been widened later as a defensive moat around the court of the Arkels?

So far visible, the moat seemed strangely filled only with mortar remains and small pieces of brick. Based on a few potsherds, a dating of the upper layer was possible: 1375-1425.

This unusual find is most likely related to the aftermath of the Siege of Gorinchem in 1417. During the bombardment by the armies of William of Arkel en Jan van Egmond had been severely damaged. In order to carry out all the repairs, an enormous amount of bricks was needed in a short period of time. In addition to the fact that bricks had to be taken from the old castle in the Wijdschild used, 121.000 kitchen stones were also used in the court of the Arkels demolished. Even the foundation was not spared 2Vries, A. de (2017)
On the Castle to Gorinchem. The first construction phase of the castle (1412-1460), Historical society "Oud-Gorcum" yearbook 2017, Gorinchem, p. 81.
PDF (2 MB). Cleaning all those stones must have been a huge job. We now also know where all the remaining rubble ended up...

Tannery or brewery?

During the investigation, a number of wooden boxes were found. The boxes still contained plant material. Cattle horn pits were also found on the site. The boxes may have been used in a tannery. It is known that tanneries existed in the area around Kazerneplein. Given the stench they caused, they were deliberately kept as far away from the inhabited part of the city as possible.

The tanning was mainly done in large buried wooden barrels. However, no such barrels have been found. This is also one of the reasons why the possible discovery of a brewery is not ruled out. Both crafts used vegetable raw materials. The material will be further analyzed in the coming months. All wooden parts have been recovered for dendrochronological research.

The cesspool of the bowling alley

On the last day of the research, part of a cesspool was dug out. Cesspools did not only have a sanitary function. Household waste was also thrown in them. The pits were periodically emptied.

This cesspit was in use during the period that behind the house "The Cut" (the later "Café de Speelwagen") a yard with bowling alley is mentioned (1736-1809) 3Emck, WF (1914) Old Names of Houses and Streets in Gorinchem, Gorinchem, p. 64. PDF (5 MB)

A remarkable number of tobacco pipes were found in the filling of the pit. Most of them originate from Gorcum pipe makers from the last quarter of the 18th century. Porcelain tea cups and saucers, glassware and a pair of leather slippers were also found.

The entire contents of the cesspit have been recovered in rubble bags. Volunteers from the archaeological depot will sift through the material further.