Valkenburg in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen
⎯⎯⎯
The Discovery of the Flint Mines
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
1. De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen / The Discovery of the Flint Mines Marker
Soms zijn de dingen die pal voor je neus staan het moeilijkst te zien. De vondst van deze vuursteenmijnen is daar een klassiek voorbeeld van.
Zo'n 30 jaar geleden deden archeologen onderzoek naar prehistorische vuursteenmijnbouw.rand Valkenburg. In de Biebos, circa 1 kilometer van deze plek richting Schin op Geul gelegen, deden ze in 1990 een spectaculaire ontdekking ze vonden de resten van ondergrondse vuursteenmijnen. Die vondst bleek achteraf de sleutel tot de ontdekking van deze plek.
Begin 1992 liepen dezelfde archeologen door deze straat, zeker niet voor de eerste keer, toen het hen opviel dat de gaten in de wand wel erg leken op de ondergrondse mijntjes van de Biebos. En de krassen op de mergelwanden hadden ze daar ook eerder gezien.
Toen viel opeens hot spreekwoordelijke kwartje die krassen en uithollingen waren prehistorische haksporen! En de gaten in del wand de 5.500 jaar oude resten van galerijen! Ze stonden hier letterlijk oog in oog met de restantιn van 7 ondergrondse prehistorische vuursteenmijnen.
Deze vondst is tot op heden uniek in Nederland. Met dank aan de oplettendheid van archeologen Fred Brounen, Karen van der Graaf en de Valkenburgse Hub Pisters, die deze vuursteenmijnen ontdekten en onderzochten.
Sometimes the things right in front of you are the hardest to see. The discovery of these flint mines is a classic example.
About 30 years ago, archaeologists were investigating prehistoric flint mines around Valkenburg. In the Biebos, located about 1 kilometer from this site towards Schin op Geul, they made a spectacular discovery in 1990: they found the remains of underground flint mines. In retrospect, that find turned out to be the key to the discovery of this site.
In early 1992, the same archaeologists were walking down this. street, certainly not for the first time, when they noticed that the holes in the wall looked very much like the underground mines of the Biebos. And they had also seen the scratches on the marl walls there before.
Then suddenly the proverbial penny dropped: those scratches and hollows were prehistoric chop marks! And the holes in the wall the 5,500-year-old remains of galleries! Here they were literally face to face with the remains of 7 underground prehistoric flint mines.
This find is so far unique in the Netherlands. Thanks to the alertness of archaeologists Fred Brounen, Karen van der Graaf and Valkenburg's Hub Pisters, who discovered and researched these flint mines.
Topics.
this page online
Location. 50° 51.93′ N, 5° 49.407′ E. Marker is in Valkenburg, Limburg, in Valkenburg aan de Geul. It is on Plenkertstraat, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Plenkertstraat 80, Valkenburg, Limburg 6301 GN, Netherlands. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Benelux Low Countries, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers / Flint Miners (within shouting distance of this marker); Haksporen / Tool Marks (within shouting distance of this marker); Werktuigen van Vuursteen / Flint Tools (within shouting distance of this marker); De Via Belgica (within shouting distance of this marker); Kruitmolen/ Gunpowder Mill (within shouting
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
2. De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen / The Discovery of the Flint Mines Marker - wide view
Also see . . . Vuursteenmijn Valkenburg (Visit Zuid Limburg).
Excerpt: One of the oldest archaeological national monuments in the Netherlands is located in Valkenburg: a site with the partly visible remains of seven prehistoric flint mines. Here the very first Dutch miners (about 5,500 years ago) searched for the steel of the Stone Age: flint.(Submitted on July 1, 2024.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
3. De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen / The Discovery of the Flint Mines Marker - wider view
This marker is the first of eight interpretive panels (running from east to west) that stand in front of the prehistoric flint mines in Valkenburg.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
