In this thesis the context of several objects found near the Rhenense Meent has been studied. Since the Rhenense Meent and the surrounding area used to be wet lands, it is suggested that the...Show moreIn this thesis the context of several objects found near the Rhenense Meent has been studied. Since the Rhenense Meent and the surrounding area used to be wet lands, it is suggested that the objects found in this area are deliberate depositions in wet contexts. The practice of deposition occurred all over Europe, therefore one would expect the type of objects found in the research area to correspond with objects which have been found as deliberate depositions before. To see if this is the case the known traditions of depositions during Late Prehistory in the Netherlands have to be studied. To create a background for the analysis of the objects found in the research area, it is necessary to study the landscape surrounding the research area. Objects dated to the Neolithic period (5.300 BC – 2000 BC), Bronze Age (2000 BC – 800 BC) and Iron Age (800 BC- 12 BC) will be discussed in this thesis. ARCHIS was used for the analysis of the objects and landscape surrounding the research area. ARCHIS does not give a complete image of all findings of a certain area and therefore one should be cautious when using ARCHIS as a database. We can conclude that probably no deliberate depositions occurred during the Early and Middle Neolithic period. Objects found from this period are daily life objects and although daily life objects were deposited in these periods, the objects showed no clear deposition context. The area of peat was a lot smaller during the Early and Middle Neolithic period and it is possible that these objects did not derive from wet lands, but from dry locations. A changed occurred during the Late Neolithic period. In this period we see the emergence of depositions of special and non-local objects. The objects found in the research area dated to the Late Neolithic period correspond with literature about deliberate depositions during the Late Neolithic period. During the Early Bronze Age we see a possible decrease in the practice of deposition. This is remarkable since according to literature we should see an increase in the practice of deposition during this period with its culmination during the Middle Bronze Age. We do see a culmination of possible deposited objects in the research area during the Middle Bronze Age with again a decrease in possible deliberate depositions during the Late Bronze Age. No clear possible depositions have been found in the research area dated to the Iron Age. Even in later periods, such as the Roman period and the Early Medieval period, the practice of deposition was not forgotten. Indicating that the research area and its surrounding landscape was a possible persistent place.Show less
