Lecture: An Old Fishing Net Tells Its Story

On Wednesday 7 October, the Friends of Archeon are organising a lecture by Silke Lange and Frank Wiersema.

About the lecture:
In prehistoric times, much of the Netherlands was covered by water. Not exactly the easiest place to live, but there was plenty of fish, birds and game to provide a good meal. At the Swifterbant Culture hunting camp or the Archaeology House Zuid-Holland, you may have seen a fish weir. But how were these actually used? Silke Lange and Frank Wiersema will explain how. And remember: this is the Netherlands, this is our history!

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Silke Lange: A 4,000-year-old fish weir tells its story
During an archaeological excavation at Stichtsekant in Almere, the remains of an exceptional fish weir, more than 4,000 years old, were discovered. The thousands of wooden posts and stakes have been remarkably well preserved and provide a unique insight into life during the Late Neolithic.

Following the excavation, extensive research was carried out into the wood and construction of the fish weir. The results provide new insights into the types of wood used, how the wood was worked and how the fish weir was constructed and used. The finds also reveal more about the landscape in which the fish weir once operated and how people made use of the water.

Collage Silke

Weir fishing: 6,000 years of heritage
Archeon has the exclusive premiere of filmmaker Frank Wiersema's documentary Weir Fishing: 6,000 Years of Heritage.

For a year, Frank followed the last fishermen who still practise the traditional craft of weir fishing, a craft that has been recognised as intangible cultural heritage. When these fishermen stop, a tradition will come to an end that, according to archaeological evidence, has been practised in our region for at least 6,000 years.

The film features various specialists and uses reconstructions to show how the landscape changed dramatically throughout prehistory, what life was like during this period, and how archaeological research has helped us understand the past.

The documentary highlights not only the importance of fishing in the past, but also the significance of our heritage for archaeology. It is a thought-provoking film about archaeology and heritage that offers plenty of food for thought.

Watch the trailer here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZWiFaYKzK4