The excavator of the excavator goes into the ground. It is an official moment for the excavations at the Koesteeg in Borger. Almost 200 homes will be built here. But before the time comes, archaeological research is first done.
Although archaeologists have already started Monday, today is the honor of alderman Henk Zwiep. He gives the go -ahead for the archaeological investigation. About 7 hectares of land will be searched in the next ten weeks. “But it could take a little longer,” acknowledges project leader Janneke Hielkema van Raap.
A few things were found during the third day of the archaeological investigation in Borger. Such as remnants of farms about 3000 years ago, earthenware from the same time, but also ditches from 1700/1800 AD that are still on display. You can see a lot in the discolorations in the sand, the project leader says.
Hielkema likes to see. “You stand at the excavator and then you see the first spot appear. And then one more and then one more,” says the archaeologist in the places where piles of a farm have ever stood. “Then you see a row. Then you think: there will be another house floor plan. That is really fun. Then you start busy with the shovel and then you will look more.”
The expectation is that many remnants of homes will be found. Near this site, around 100 so -called home plans have been found, says Hielkema. “In addition, a lot of those skewers: grain sheds. There are perhaps 400. I don’t know. I have lost count,” she laughs.
“I always hope that we will find another ax again,” says the project leader. “That was the tools of that time. They cut the trees with which they were going to build the houses. Then you get very close to the people of the past.”
The team will be busy with the excavations in the coming weeks. After that, around 190 homes are being built. Alderman Henk Zwiep hopes that construction will start in 2026.