Archeologie, Valkhof/Hunnerpark

English translation

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Description

Terrain in which traces of settlement (civilian and military) from the Roman Period, traces of settlement and burial from the Early and Late Middle Ages and the remains of a castle from the Late Middle Ages.

The archaeological features on the Valkhof (terrain A) and in the Hunnerpark (terrain B) are to a large extent equivalent. Originally they also formed a single complex. Currently they are intersected by a valley of the Voerweg, which was buried in the Late Middle Ages.

In both terrains numerous incidental observations have been made. Data on these are found in the literature. The observations concern ground traces and finds from an indigenous-Roman settlement from the beginning of the chronological era and again from a settlement with military fortification from the 4th and 5th centuries AD.

The settlement from the beginning of the chronological era (ca. 10 BC - 70 AD) may be identified as the Batavodurum known from Tacitus, the capital of the Batavi which was destroyed in 70 AD during the Batavian revolt. From finds and excavations in the immediate vicinity (Trajanusplein, Josefhof, Derde Walstraat) it is evident that the remains of this settlement are still present particularly in terrain B. In terrain A they will have been partly damaged by later (Roman and Medieval) construction. The terrain thereby contains the traces still present in their mutual coherence of the only large civil settlement from the Early Roman Period that exists in the Netherlands. The Late Roman construction consists of a fortification of which the remains occur particularly on terrain A, the Valkhof. Parts of the associated ditch have been excavated beneath the Lindenberg and to the south of the Voerweg. A section remains intact in terrain B. The Roman fortification was also used in the Early Middle Ages.

Furthermore, remains of a burial ground have been found on either side of the Voerweg which existed from the Merovingian Period (1st quarter 7th century) far into the Middle Ages (mid-13th century). It formed the burial place of/at the first parish church of Nijmegen which was dedicated to Stephen; when the Voerweg was constructed the church was moved to its present location in the inner city and the old church site must have been ploughed up.

Remains of the associated Early Medieval settlement are located in A and B. This settlement is equivalent to the villa (rural settlement) which has been known since Charlemagne beside the palace on the Valkhof.

In terrain A there are further remains of the great Staufen castle which was completed by Frederick Barbarossa in 1166. Terrain B is dominated by a considerable section of Late Medieval city wall.

Although the observations have shown that particularly in terrain B quite considerable excavation work has taken place in the past, it may be concluded from experience gained from excavations elsewhere in the Nijmegen inner city that very important archaeological data are still present in situ. This latter certainly applies to terrain A, where excavation work has always been much less extensive. The data recorded so far have clearly demonstrated the great archaeological potential of these terrains.