Valkenburg in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Limburg, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe
Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers
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Flint Miners
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
1. Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers / Flint Miners Marker
Archeologen hebben ontdekt dat de Valkenburgse vuursteenmijnen zo'n 5.500 jaar geleden werden ontgonnen.. Dat is in de tijd van het Neolithicum de Nieuwe Steentijd-die duurde van ca. 7.300 tot 4.000 jaar geleden. Men leefde in kleine gemeenschappen, verspreid over een waarschijnlijk bosrijk landschap, waarin hier en daar de invloed van de mens zichtbaar was.
De mensen destijds waren zowel boer als jager. Ze bewerkten in de eerste plaats akkertjes en hielden vee. Ook verzamelden ze voedsel, jaagden ze op wild en hengelden ze naar vis in de Geul. Er wordt aangenomen dat vooral in de wintermaanden in de vuursteenmijnen werd gewerkt, omdat er dan minder te doen was op de boerderij.
Archeologists have discovered that in the Valkenburg mines flint was extracted around 5.500 years ago. That is in the period of the Neolithic - the New Stone Age - which lasted from approximately 7.300 to 4.000 years ago. People lived in small communities scattered over a presumably wooded landscape in which human impact was noticeable here and there.
These people were both farmers and hunters. They worked small plots of land and kept livestock. Also food was produced by gathering, hunting wild animals and angling for fish in the Geul. It is assumed that the flint mines were exploited in winter when there was less to do on the farm.
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Location. 50° 51.935′ N, 5° 49.379′ 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 53, 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: Haksporen / Tool Marks (a few steps from this marker); Werktuigen van Vuursteen / Flint Tools (a few steps from this marker); De Via Belgica (within shouting distance of this marker); Kruitmolen/ Gunpowder Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); De Vondst Van De Vuursteenmijnen / The Discovery of the Flint Mines (within
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
2. Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers / Flint Miners Marker - wide view
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, May 27, 2024
3. Vuurstijn-Mijnwerkers / Flint Miners Marker - wider view
The Flint Miners marker is one of several on the right side of the road positioned in front of the former flint mines.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 133 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
