Rare prehistoric farm discovered near Susteren

The discovery was made during the preparations for the widening of the A2. It is the first farmstead from the late Stone Age to be found in South Limburg. At that time, people were first starting to settle in particular places and cultivate the land.

Unique discovery due to a kernel of grain

The excavated farmstead dates to the period of the Hazendonk culture, around 360 BCE. Archaeologists found pile holes, earthenware and flint tools. Thanks to a kernel of grain that could be carbon dated, it was possible to ascertain the age of the farmstead accurately.

Reconstruction of the farmstead

Thousands of years have passed, however; not much remains of the farmstead. Nonetheless, archaeologists have been able to get a good picture of what the farmstead may have looked like. And they used information from other sites in Europe where finds from that time have been made.

The farmstead was probably around 9 m long, with wattle and daub walls, and a thatched roof reaching to the ground. A 3D reconstruction gives an idea of what the building must have looked like.

Rare find

Project leader Marc Ruijters of RAAP believes it is an exceptional find: 'When we saw the first pile holes, I immediately felt that we were on to something special. Such a well-preserved floor plan of a building from this early period is something we rarely find in the Netherlands. Building footprints from the Hazendonk culture are particularly rare in the Netherlands. They are usually found only in the west of the country. Susteren is now joining that list. And there are few parallels in the rest of Europe.'

Archeologist Boudewijn Goudswaard of Missing Link confirms this view: ‘I believe this is an exceptional find, not something we can put behind glass in a museum. Such a well-preserved building footprint from this time is hardly ever found in the Netherlands.'