4,000-Year-Old Shrine Unearthed in the Netherlands

A 4,000-year-old shrine was recently unearthed in the Netherlands which has been dubbed the “Stonehenge of the Netherlands.”

This remarkable site, dating back around 4,000 years, comprises a burial mound that also functioned as a primitive form of solar calendar.

Within this burial mound, archaeologists uncovered the remains of approximately 60 individuals, both men, women, and children. What makes this discovery truly intriguing are the various passageways built into the mound.

These cleverly designed passages allowed the sunlight to directly illuminate specific areas on the longest and shortest days of the year.

The town of Tiel, where this extraordinary site was found, enthusiastically shared the news on its official Facebook page: “What a spectacular archaeological discovery! Archaeologists have found a 4,000-year-old religious sanctuary on an industrial site.”

Details of the shrine excavation in the Netherlands

Excavations of the renowned open-air sanctuary began in 2017 in a quaint village located approximately 31 miles (50km) southeast of Utrecht. The findings of this significant endeavor were unveiled to the public on Wednesday.

Through meticulous examination of variations in clay composition and color, the diligent scientists successfully pinpointed the presence of three burial mounds within the excavation site. These mounds are situated just a few miles away from the banks of the Waal River.

The primary mound, measuring approximately 20 meters (65ft) in diameter, possesses strategically aligned passages designed to function as a solar calendar. The insightful archaeologists explained that ancient people relied on this calendar to mark significant occasions such as festivals and harvest days.

As NOS, the national broadcaster, further noted, this hill brings to mind Stonehenge, the renowned enigmatic prehistoric monument in Britain, where a similar phenomenon takes place.

Discovery of smaller mounds and glass bead

Scientists uncovered two smaller mounds within the vicinity. These three mounds served as burial grounds for a period spanning around 800 years, archaeologists say.

Another captivating revelation emerged when the shrine was excavated: the unearthing of a solitary glass bead within a burial site. Intriguingly, upon analysis, it was determined that this bead originated in Mesopotamia, which corresponds to present-day Iraq.

Cristian van der Linde, the chief researcher, pointed out the remarkable fact that this bead had traversed a staggering distance of approximately 5,000 kilometers over four millennia.

Stijn Arnoldussen, a professor at the University of Groningen, stated that for the people of that time, the bead must have been an extraordinary object, as there was no local glass production and they were therefore unfamiliar with such material.

The Mesopotamian bead likely had an extensive history before finding its way to the region surrounding Tiel, known as the Betuwe in Dutch.

Arnoldussen further elaborated to NOS: “Things were already being exchanged in those times. The bead may have been above ground for hundreds of years before it reached Tiel, but of course, it didn’t have to be.”