The Search for the Lost City, archeology in Maastricht

Abstract

Maastricht probably is the oldest city of the Netherlands and the past is to be seen and to be felt in every street and alley, in the gables and in the ground. At some places the human activities of generations is reflected below the street-level of the city. Every generation adds archeological materials and destroys the elder artifacts. This since the Roman era, 200 A.D.

Recently the archeology is also considered of great importance for the knowledge and science of the development of the city. During the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century incidental excavations mainly had the intention to find the Roman past and remains of some special buildings. From 1953 up to 1974 the State Service for Archeology was responsible for the archeology in Maastricht and involved in excavations in the city.

After 1979, due to the experiences of urban renewal projects, the archeology became a part of the urban development and planning of Maastricht. Ten years of archeology makes it now possible to give an idea of the urban development of Maastricht from the Roman city, the early Christian episcopal city to the medieval city and its walls in 1350. Discovered were many structural elements of the Roman period, a 4th-century fortress, the origin of the Vrijthof-square and the early history of the church of St. Servatius. Past and present meet each other by archeology in Maastricht.