Archaeological resting point Steenland

Along the provincial road between Schimmert and Arensgenhout you will find the Archaeological Resting Point Steenland. This resting point is marked by means of a work of art at the place where archaeological discoveries have been made in the past. In 2008 a Roman villa complex was excavated here and traces of habitation have been found not only from Roman times, but also from the Iron Age and the Middle Ages. A large circle with a diameter of nine metres is covered with milled Corten steel parts in various thicknesses.

On top of this, three Corten steel columns with information boards have been placed. The whole proposes a map of the area, with road structure, with the course of the Geul, with built-up areas and afforestation. The location of sixteen Roman villa complexes found in the area is indicated by round brass plates. For orientation, the surrounding names of the municipality are also shown on rectangular brass engraved plates.

Between 54 BC and 406 AD, Limburg was part of the Roman Empire. Its heyday was between 50 and 250 AD. Roman cities in this region were Tongeren, Maastricht, Heerlen and Aachen where there were temples, bathhouses, markets and administrative buildings. A major road, the Via Belgica, ran from the Channel coast via Maastricht to Heerlen and Cologne.

There were a large number of Roman villas on unpaved side roads, such as here at the Steenland villa complex. In Roman times, there were already two intersecting roads here. From this place one could see several villas 1800 years ago. The current monastery of Ravensbosch probably housed a Roman temple.

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