Just along the A2 motorway, where cars zoom past and road workers are busy with preparations, the ground beneath has a very different story to tell. Hidden under the soil near the crash barriers lie copper coins, ceramic pots, traces of an ancient well, and even the remains of a Roman farm. Not bad for a stretch of highway shoulder!
On Wednesday 8 April, pupils from primary school De Avonturijn in Berg aan de Maas got the chance to become real-life treasure hunters for a day. Invited by Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch national road authority), the children headed out into the field alongside alderman Hub Schoenmakers, armed with metal detectors and a whole lot of curiosity. 🧭
The search turned up some impressive finds, but perhaps the biggest result was the excitement and wonder on the faces of the kids. A day trip along the motorway that felt like a genuine time machine? Yes please! ⚗️
The backstory: Rijkswaterstaat is currently preparing a widening of the A2. Before any major ground work begins, thorough archaeological research is carried out to make sure nothing historically valuable is lost. And in this case, that research proved to be worth its weight in gold. 🏺
A truly unforgettable day for the pupils of De Avonturijn!
Source: Gemeente Stein
