Medieval Bone-Constructed Floor Unearthed by Archaeologists
Medieval Bone-Constructed Floor Unearthed by Archaeologists
Centuries ago, an individual from Netherlands discovered an unusual method to fill their floor's gaps, opting for animal bones instead of tiles.
The archaeological department of a Dutch city, Alkmaar, recently stumbled upon an ancient floor that contains a mix of tiles and animal bones in its historical center. This unique discovery, highlighted in a municipal announcement on December 13, is infrequently documented, primarily found in 15th-century floors within the North Holland province.
Nancy de Jong, a municipal archaeologist from Alkmaar, expressed enthusiastically, "It was a pleasure to see the bone floor with our own eyes. Unearthing relics from the past and expanding Alkmaar's historical knowledge is always a privilege."
Upon closer examination, the bones were identified as fragments from cattle metacarpals and metatarsals (feet bones). Despite the floor's aged appearance, the archaeological team managed to detect a pattern in the bone arrangement with a vertical layout, with either the ridged or the sawn-off end facing upward.
A close-up of the bone flooring. © Municipality of Alkmaar archeology team.
The team later found similar bone structures in other Dutch cities like Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Edam. The bone structure in Hoorn, notably, had a pattern that closely resembled the recently found one in Alkmaar. Experts are currently contemplating whether this bone floor arrangement was a popular Dutch solution or design during the 15th century.
The exact date of the bone floor has yet to be determined. Although the corresponding house was constructed at the start of the 17th century, the archaeologists pointed out that it was not uncommon for new houses to be built upon older foundations. Therefore, there is a possibility that the floor still dates back to the 15th century, like other examples.
The intriguing question behind this unusual practice remains – why choose to fill the floor gaps with bones instead of more accessible and affordable materials like tiles? The archaeological team hypothesized that the bones served as a simple filler, without any intent to function as tiles. The floor's possible connection to the craft produced in the region could also contribute to its unique design.
Anjo van de Ven, a representative for Alkmaar's heritage organization, expressed his excitement about the find, "There are still countless untold stories waiting to be uncovered by our team of archaeologists. I can't wait for their updates on new discoveries – what exciting find have they come across this time?"
As the archaeologists delve deeper into the mystery of the bone floor, the world slowly uncovers a long-lasting flooring solution that's been forgotten in time.
In the future, this bone floor discovery could lead to groundbreaking research in archaeological science and technology. Furthermore, the unique bone floor arrangement might inspire innovative architectural designs in modern technology.