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Poster presented at the Power and Place in later Roman and Medieval Europe Conference, London (UK), 2011
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1. The Antwerp burg area anno 1884 by F. Truyman, edited by S. Michiels (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)2. Aerial view of the Antwerp city centre with a projection of the burg anno 1884, by E. Joris on a photograph by Coolens & Deleuil (Eric Joris)3. Field recording of the early medieval earthen rampart, by Wittevronghel, 1887 (Antwerp City Archives)4. Earthen rampart section during recent excavations, 2008-2009 (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)5. Up to four metres of Gaul-Roman, early medieval and medieval archaeological deposits, exposed during 1950s and 60s excavations
by A.L.J. Van de Walle (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)6. Well preserved remnants of wooden pathways and medieval timber building, during 1950s and 60s excavations (Department of Archaeology,
City of Antwerp)
7. Medieval timber-built houses along Mattestraat, by A.L.J. Van de Walle (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)8. Early medieval wattle, revealed during recent excavations, 2008-2009 (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)9. Field recording of the medieval burg stone wall and moat during recent excavations, 2005 (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)10. Gaul-Roman burial site, discovered during recent excavations, 2008-2009 (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)11. Early medieval disc brooch (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)12. Early medieval worked antler and bone (Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp)
IllustratIons
Tys D.1, Bellens T.2 and Schryvers A.3
1 Department of Arts and Archaeology, Brussels Free University (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, [email protected]
2 Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp, Grote Markt 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, [email protected]
3 Department of Archaeology, City of Antwerp, Grote Markt 1, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium, [email protected]
Interdisciplinary research and archaeological excavations reveal insight into the birth and growth of Antwerp from an early medieval trading centre to an Ottonian fortress.
Situated at the crossing point of the river Scheldt and the Schyn estuary, early medieval Antwerp probably originates in the 7th century AD. Written sources mention Christianisation attempts by Saint Amand and Saint Eligius, Saint Willibrord being presented with an early church, and the looting of Antwerp by Vikings in 836. Shortly afterwards, Danish chiefs gain political and military control of the river Scheldt.
Archaeological dating indicates that, during the 9th century, a trading settlement with an urban character arises as the centre of the later medieval town. Excavations reveal an early medieval trading centre, constructed on an abandoned Gaul-Roman cemetery and protected by a semi-circular or D-shaped round pole fence and earthen rampart. Having the character of a portus, the resemblance to Birka and Haithabu is striking.
A three to four meters thick stratigraphy contains keys to knowledge about the wooden town that Antwerp once was: remarkably well preserved wooden pathways, wattle construction, stoves etc. show great similarity to other settlements and trading centres under Viking influence, such as Haithabu or Novgorod.
The defeat of the Danish Vikings around 890 could not restrain the new town from growing. During the 10th century, Antwerp becomes a marca, like Ename and Valenciennes. By the end of the Ottonian dynasty, the enclosed trading settlement has evolved into a centre of official power with a stone wall, a Saint Walburga church and official functions.
This transformation process from portus under Viking influence to Ottonian burg illustrates the importance of ideological space in shaping the experience of public power.
For decades, the Antwerp burg has been subject to interdisciplinary archaeological research, starting with excavations in the 1950s and 60s by A.L.J. Van de Walle. In 2008-2009, three building projects led to large-scale excavations by the Department of Archaeology of the City of Antwerp, the Free University of Brussels and the Flemish Heritage Institute. The Antwerp burg was listed as an archaeological monument in 2010.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Ed Oakley, Barbara Wouters, Yannick Devos, Kristof Haneca, Koen Deforce, Koen De Groote, Anton Ervynck, Els Dauven, Alix Lorquet, Eric Joris and Steve Michiels.
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Antwerp, from eArly medievAl trAding centre to ottoniAn burg through viking dominAtion
