GORINCHEM — Tiny Wijnen (64) is one of the volunteers without whom the search for the House Paffenrode would be a difficult one. The Gorcumse has been digging with ten others since Monday for traces of the sixteenth-century country house.
Tiny Wines
For Tiny, the digging is not only a journey of discovery into the past, but also into the present. She is taking part in an archaeological investigation for the first time and has already discovered that digging and investigating suits her very well.
"I have always been interested in archaeology. When I saw researchers working on the pyramids in Egypt on television, I often thought 'that would be something for me too'.” At the beginning of this year, she joined the historical association Oud-Gorcum. A step she had wanted to take before, but had never got around to it.
"The first thing I did in the field of archaeology was to puzzle out the Happy Corner found shards. From these pieces I tried to make one whole by carefully fitting and measuring. Not an easy job, but very nice.”
When the opportunity arose to actually do excavations, the former executive assistant of Tevan Olie in Gorinchem decided to roll up her sleeves. Even though the Kazerneplein can hardly be compared to the Egyptian pyramids, although the sandy plain under the scorching sun looks a lot like a desert. “It may sound crazy, but despite the heat, this work is not tiring. The work is even relaxing. When I come home in the evening, I do feel like I have worked, but there is not a hint of stress involved. I can recommend it to everyone.” Nevertheless, according to Tiny, the archaeological work can certainly be called monastic work. “You sit there digging in the sand with your trowel, until you find something.” She is not dissatisfied with her finds so far.
The Dordrecht resident
August 14, 1997
by Anja Broeken