A major archaeological discovery has been made in Den Bosch ('s Hertogenbosch), where work on an underground parking garage turned up the remains of a Neanderthal encampment.

With its remnants of stone tools and animal bones, it is a unique find, the best preserved Neanderthal encampment in the Netherlands.

The camp dates from the Palaeolithic period, between 40.000 and 70.000 years ago.

Experts from the University of Leiden and the National Cultural Heritage are co-operating in the investigation.

Neanderthal life

The find is clearly Neanderthal due to the large number of stone tools found, all typical of the human’s near relative.

Also found are bones ancient and, in some cases, extinct animals, including woolly mammoths, woolly rhinoceros, giant deer, horses and bison.

What makes the find so special is the condition of the tools. Preliminary investigations seem to suggest that the items were covered up quickly, thereby preserving them to this day.

Now archaeologists are taking soil samples to gain an insight into the plants and trees that grew in the area and thus reconstruct the Neanderthals’ lives.

A special garage

The parking garage part of a development project near the centre of ‘s Hertogenbosch. Experts have determined that work on the garage does not have to stop while they continue their careful excavation.

Nevertheless, this parking garage is now one of the most important sites from the Neanderthal period, as well as being home to remnants form other important eras such as the late medieval and the French periods.

Source: ‘s Hertogenbosch