Peat reclamations of the Pre-Roman Iron Age and Roman Iron Age in Friesland (The Netherlands)
Archaeological observations have shown that some centuries before the beginning of the Common Era, parts of the Frisian peatlands were reclaimed by terp-dwelling communities from the salt marshes. However, small-scale excavations had made it clear that little could be stated with certainty about this phenomenon. The aim of this PhD research was therefore to gain a deeper understanding of these earliest Frisian peat reclamations. Therefore, results from earlier studies were combined with new investigations conducted within the PHD project, including various forms of field surveys, GIS analyses, and three excavations of settlements associated with these reclamations.
This research provides many important new insights into these early reclamations, which now appear to have begun already in the 4th century BC. One of the principal findings is that the primary motive behind these efforts was the creation of an agricultural landscape; other activities, such as peat extraction, played only a secondary role. Another significant insight is that these reclamations were anything but sustainable. Artificial drainage caused subsidence, making the reclaimed lands wetter. Over time, this forced inhabitants to reclaim new stretches of peatland and to relocate their settlements. Interestingly, the abandoned lands gradually rose again, largely through the deposition of marine clay. This process restored the balance to some degree and, over time, made these areas suitable for habitation again, which is what happened. The study further shows that the cessation of these reclamations corresponds with the general population decline in the terp region during the 3rd and early 4th centuries AD.