People already lived in De Maashorst centuries ago. This is proven by the many traces that have been found by archaeologists over the past century. The oldest and still visible remains are the burial mounds: monuments for the deceased who were buried centrally under the mound. On the Slabroekse Heide, the counter of burial mounds found has now reached one hundred. Isn’t it fascinating, the idea that people already lived here centuries ago?
A unique urn field
Because people always built a mound in the same place, different burial mound groups emerged from around 2000 BC. There were also several burial mounds on the Slabroekse Heide. In the early Iron Age, an urn field was also constructed around these mounds. While the burial mounds were still reserved for a small group of local residents, in an urn field each member of the community was given a spot under a (small) mound. A few centuries after the burial field was abandoned, it was put into use again in Roman times. After that, the site was abandoned for good. Until the burial field was discovered and excavated in 1923.
The prince or princes of De Maashorst
Bronze anklets and bracelets, pins, braided rings, toiletries and parts of a shroud. Just a few finds from the unusually rich grave that archaeologists found in 2010 on the Slabroekse Heide.
Whether it is a man or a woman is difficult to determine, but the type of jewelry and pins indicate that it is a woman with status. A prehistoric queen who was buried here 2600 years ago in a stretched position. And that is remarkable, because in that period people were mainly cremated.
The special grave gifts can be admired in the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden.
the cultural treasures
De Maashorst is full of special culture