Dirk Bressers He was dismantling his new house and found a total of three archaeological finds. When removing the soil, it was found a well, a large vase full of coins and an old tombstone.
The move and the discovery
Bressers just moved to Wow (Netherlands), has bought an old commercial premises and settled in the back.
“I was digging and found this tombstone. At first I thought: it’s a grave, someone is buried underneath. Construction may stop soon, but there was a deep pit underneath.”
The entire place has been dismantled and completely empty; The tombstone is in the background.
“I think I can read in it: July 3, 1711. It probably comes from the church of Lambertus. Actually, I want to know where the other party is. But look, down here is a deep well with incredibly clear water. That tombstone is very heavy, so I can’t remove it right now, but it has a little peephole. “They used that tombstone to cover the well and put a floor over it.”
Bressers will include the well in its construction project. “I can definitely imagine it. Lights around it, a glass plate on top. Beautiful. I think it is a beautiful well; I’m a little less interested in the tombstone.”
But he not only found a pot and a well, but also a pot full of coins.
“It was there, where the entrance to the basement used to be. The coins are gone; I’m cleaning them because they were completely green. I noticed there were coins with swastikas on them and I saw something, I think it was Napoleon, 1841. But also many old nickels. First you have to clean them to be able to examine them well. So right now they’re soaking in the cleaner.”
Upon finding the coins, Bressers hoped that they had some value, but the chances are really slim.
“It would be nice to be able to pay for the renovation with it, but no,” he jokes. “Someone from the Local History Society was here, but he thought it wasn’t worth much.”
The Local History Society went to verify
Bart Marienof the society oflocal history De Vierschaer in Wouwwent to check it.
He has said that it is quite likely that the tombstones come from the church Lambertus.
“The tombstone has a text in Gothic letters that is no longer read clearly. You can still see decorations in the corners, a quatrefoil. It is a classic Gothic ornamental motif, an engraving. It could even indicate that it is the tomb of a priest,” he added.
The Local History Society He has shown his joy at the discovery, even though it has no value.
“The reuse of the headstone is interesting. It now serves to cover a well. This house dates back to the 1930s; back then the old house was demolished and the new one was extended. The latter was built over the old well, which was left intact but covered. Wouw was also connected to the water supply in the 1930s, so it is very possible.”