500 skeletons discovered at archaeological site in Oostkerke

Before the piece of history of the Zwin region disappears underground again, many curious people get a tour.

Archaeologists have also uncovered a piece of the medieval road during the excavations. This ran from Oostkerke to the vanished Zwinhaven Monnikenrede. The road is built from ballast boulders from ships that were on their way to Bruges from all over Europe via the Zwin.

23,000 skeletons

Archaeologist Arnout Van Belle of the BAAC says, among other things, that this discovery is a good example of how people lived in the Middle Ages. “You can just see the road surface they walked on here. It’s fantastic to find. This medieval road is unique in Flanders.”

The archaeological research is being carried out in response to the refurbishment of the village center of Oostkerke, which started in March last year. Around the church, 500 skeletons have also been excavated, but many more people are buried there.

“There are a total of 23,000 skeletons underground. Not all of them come from Oostkerke, but also from parishes. There may also be a few international traders among them. That is something you can study on the basis of the grave goods, but also on the basis of the teeth,” says archaeologist Caroline Landsheere.

Some skeletons will be further investigated. Tomorrow the archaeologists will put an end to the excavations. Everything has been carefully mapped and photographed.