Raatakkers Vaassen

In this place, various field systems lie. Field systems are pieces of farmland from the Iron Age and have the shape of a square field structure surrounded by earth banks. In English, they are called "Celtic Fields."

Archaeological research has shown that these earth banks were formed in the manner described below; the prehistoric farmer cleared his small plot of stones that kept coming to the surface, especially after rainfall. He threw them aside, along with everything that grew there which he found useless. This resulted in slight elevations in the landscape in a rectangular field structure. It is not unlikely that, because his field had been cleared from the forest not long before, acorns were still particularly germinating there. The forest at that time consisted of oaks and some beeches and birches. The earth banks were primarily populated by oaks, growing into dense thickets.

After a few years, the small fields were left to their fate, as the prehistoric Iron Age people had not yet mastered the technique of fertilizing. Over time, the soil became so impoverished that it only remained suitable for the tough heather plant, especially when a period came where the climate became drier. The exhausted soil with heather was still usable to pasture livestock, which at that time were usually not yet sheep; to let them graze there or at least to help them find some food. Over time, whole complexes of fields emerged covering tens of hectares, with the settlement located in the middle.

The matured oak earth banks could serve well to keep the livestock together. These farmers may have even been clever enough to weave the branches together, making it even more difficult for the livestock to break through. That weaving of branches has even gained a religious significance. The memory of this has been preserved into our time.

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