In 1963, archaeologists found skeletal remains beneath the Oude Kerk. These remains turned out to be from a man who was buried there between 1150 and 1215. He was one of the first Amsterdammers. Starting March 7, you can see him up close in the City Archives.
Further research has been conducted on this first Amsterdammer using the latest techniques. We have learned more about his age, what he ate, and how his health was. We also now have a facial reconstruction.
Log coffin
The remains of the first Amsterdammer were found in a hollowed-out log, a so-called log coffin. The man was about 1.72 meters tall and between 20 to 25 years old. He was buried with his head facing west and his feet facing east. This was customary in the Middle Ages, as the dead could then see the resurrection of Christ.
First generation
The bones of the man were examined using the latest specialized techniques. We discovered that he died between 1150 and 1215. He must have been one of the first people to settle at the mouth of the Amstel.
What did the first Amsterdammer eat?
Thanks to the chemical elements in bones, we can also determine what someone ate. We know that the oldest Amsterdammer mainly ate plants and land animals. He ate little to no fish.
Was he healthy?
Because the man was still young, he still had all his teeth. From his dentition, we can see that he experienced a period of serious illness and/or malnutrition during his toddler years.
From metabolite, protein, and DNA research, we further know that his health left much to be desired. He likely suffered from lung infections. To combat the inflammation and fever, he took an extract of boiled willow bark or willow leaves, which contain salicylic acid. A variant of this acid is acetylsalicylic acid, the main ingredient of aspirin.
What did he look like?
Physical anthropologist Maja dHollosy created a facial reconstruction of this, so far, oldest known Amsterdammer. She did this based on photographs of his skull, which has unfortunately gone missing since the 1960s.
Using the skull photos, two-dimensional facial reconstructions were first made from the front and side of the head, and then a three-dimensional one. A layer was then shaved off the three-dimensional model, and it was 3D printed. The final face was sculpted on this print.
Because this model was made of clay and cannot be preserved for long, a copy of the head in rubber had to be made afterward. Finally, the rubber face was painted and given artificial eyes and hair.
And this is the result:
Podcast
If you want to hear more about the research, in the podcast From bone to image: the first Amsterdammer, we take you step by step through the research and reconstruction of the face.
Meet the first Amsterdammer
The first Amsterdammer is on display in the exhibition The Birth of the City. Searching for Medieval Amsterdam at the City Archives. In this exhibition, you will see everything related to daily life at the time of the first Amsterdammer: special archival pieces, rare archaeological finds, and art.
Want to know more?
Photo at the top: Maja dHollosy working on the facial reconstruction of the first Amsterdammer (photo: Ranjith Jayasena, Monuments and Archaeology, Municipality of Amsterdam).