Medieval IKEA church roof found on reclaimed land in the Netherlands –

Beams from a medieval building kit on a church roof have been discovered during land reclamation work in Almere, in the province of Flevoland in north-central Netherlands. The beams date back to the 15th century and were most likely transported by ships when they fell into the sea in the Zuiderzee or sank with them. The Zuiderzee is a freshwater lake today, but in the 1400s it was an open waterway in the North Sea.

The Zuiderzee has been a lake and a North Sea bay at different times, depending on sea level and coastal erosion. The construction of the Afsludijk Dam in the 20th century created the current lake, and Almere was built on reclaimed land between 1959 and 1968, making it the youngest city in the Netherlands. Despite its youth, there are archaeological remains dating back to the Neolithic era in the deep layers of the forebay/lake beneath the city.

Archaeologists discovered the beams while surveying a site for future development in the Pamps district of Almere. Archaeologist Yftinus van Popta drilled an “observation hole” down and discovered that the wood was well preserved due to the waterlogged environment. It consists of at least 80 beams, assembled according to instructions carved by carpenters on the wood. When installed together, the beams will form a peaked roof approximately 9 x 22 meters (30 x 72 feet).

In what is now Almere Pampus, the remains of at least three shipwrecks were discovered on a plot of land in the 1980s, as well as part of a late medieval church roof. When the beams were discovered, they were reburied elsewhere. Van Popta said it was a conscious choice: “If you take it out, it dries out and then you have to do something with it. But conservation is very expensive.” The exact location of the reburial has not yet been determined. Very well kept.

Based on old aerial photos, overview maps and descriptions from contemporary archaeologists, he wondered where the reburied church roof should be. Drilling surveys were conducted there. The plastic and wood were quickly discovered, as expected since old photos show the church’s roof covered in agricultural plastic.

It is unique to find a complete wooden church roof as the entire ship. Van Popta: “If the beams are in good condition and you can still put them together as intended, that’s pretty special, so to speak.” The city is conducting more research to determine the precise age of the wood and get a clearer picture Ships transporting lumber.