Natte en droge voeten met uitzicht op zee; de ijzertijd in Den Haag: Vindplaatsen en vondsten uit de ijzertijd in de regio ‘s-Gravenhage in context

This research paints an image of the iron age habitation of the region of present day Den Haag and the entire west coast of Zuid-Holland more broadly. Using literature, datasets and maps (in QGIS 3.40) concerning archaeological sites an answer will be given to the question: what did the landscape and habitation look like in present day Den Haag during the different phases of the iron age? The west coast of the Netherlands is still relatively underresearched in this period compared to other regions of the country. In the municipality of Den Haag a total of 49 sites have been documented to have finds or features dating roughly between 800 BCE and 1 CE (data.overheid.nl, 2025). Data available through data.overheid.nl and Archis 3.0 are used tot map out the sites. They are compared on location in the landscape, the use of that location, their finds, and dating (if possible) in a microregional approach. To put the sites in a broader context literature research has been done into both the...Show moreThis research paints an image of the iron age habitation of the region of present day Den Haag and the entire west coast of Zuid-Holland more broadly. Using literature, datasets and maps (in QGIS 3.40) concerning archaeological sites an answer will be given to the question: what did the landscape and habitation look like in present day Den Haag during the different phases of the iron age? The west coast of the Netherlands is still relatively underresearched in this period compared to other regions of the country. In the municipality of Den Haag a total of 49 sites have been documented to have finds or features dating roughly between 800 BCE and 1 CE (data.overheid.nl, 2025). Data available through data.overheid.nl and Archis 3.0 are used tot map out the sites. They are compared on location in the landscape, the use of that location, their finds, and dating (if possible) in a microregional approach. To put the sites in a broader context literature research has been done into both the research area as the larger region of the west coast of Zuid-Holland. This research resulted in the following conclusions. The iron age habitation of Den Haag was mainly centered around the tops and flanks of the beach ridges and dunes. The tops are usually to eroded and disturbed to retain many traces of the period. Thus most sites are on the flanks. Systems of walls and ditches were used to protect their fields against drifting sand and wind erosion. After the salt marches became more accessible because of drainage by tidal channels like the Gantel these became popular for livestock farming. Crossings were made of sod and reeds, sometimes reinforced with a treetrunk and wooden stakes to get from the ridges to the marches. A common practise for the coast area was salt extraction, for which a special type of pottery was used: briquetage. This was found throughout many sites in Den Haag. The salt could be used to trade for items that were otherwise not available like iron tools and millstones of tephrite.Show less

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Natte en droge voeten met uitzicht op zee; de ijzertijd in Den Haag: Vindplaatsen en vondsten uit de ijzertijd in de regio ‘s-Gravenhage in context