A special Neanderthal site has been discovered on a plot near the nature reserve Noordsche Veld in Peest. Archaeologists from the Stichting Stone (Stone Age Research Netherlands) and volunteer archaeologists, in collaboration with the archaeological research agency De Steekproef, have found around 650 worked flint stones and other worked stones in recent years. This makes the plot in Peest the largest surface site of Neanderthal artifacts in the northern half of our country. The researchers also found more hand axes on the plot than in all of North Netherlands combined.

The special site had been known to researchers for some time. On the plot, volunteer archaeologists led by Neanderthal expert Marcel Niekus have been searching for Neanderthal tools for many years. Numerous finds were made at the surface of the field. New developments ensure that the exact location is no longer a secret. This year and next year, new archaeological research will be conducted on the plot by the foundation together with De Steekproef. The research, commissioned by the province of Drenthe, will provide more knowledge about the presence of Neanderthals in Drenthe, around 50,000 years ago.

Valley

The new research will take place near the valley of the Oostervoortsche Diep. At this location, the soil offers excellent conditions for preserving organic materials such as wood, bone, and plant remains. The research will determine whether these materials can provide more information about what life was like for the Neanderthals. Furthermore, this allows for more certainty and accuracy in determining the exact age of the artifacts. Initially, drilling will take place. Based on the results of these drillings, specific, smaller locations can be designated for trial trenches to be dug. This research will take place in the summer of 2025 and 2026.

Site

The site was discovered in 2007 during field surveys with archaeology students under the guidance of Marcel Niekus. The discovery was prompted by the finding of a hand axe in the early 1990s by a private individual in a path next to the field. This hand axe has gone down in history as the hand axe of Peest. In 2011, De Steekproef dug pits at the location with the highest density of finds. Nearly 300 Neanderthal artifacts were excavated, making Peest an archaeological site of international importance. These include stone tools such as hand axes, chisels, and knives used for hunting, cutting, and processing hides and wood. This is very special because Neanderthal artifacts (tools) are almost always collected as loose finds at the surface. As a result, the original context of a find remains unclear. In 2014, a second concentration of artifacts was discovered along the road at the edge of the valley. Here, researchers mainly found waste pieces from flint processing. A third concentration lies along the eastern edge of the field, not far from the Nature Site.

Nature Network Netherlands

The plot on which the artifacts were discovered has recently come into the possession of the province of Drenthe, which purchased the land for the realization of the Nature Network Netherlands (NNN). This means that the land will eventually be transformed into nature. Before these activities can start, archaeological research will first take place. For the province, this research is important because little is known about the Neanderthals in Drenthe. Moreover, the province has included in its Cultural Note 2025-2029 that it wants to gain more knowledge about this to better protect Peest and other sites in the future.

The province of Drenthe is working throughout Drenthe, together with partners, on the NNN from the Program Naturally Rural to enhance the quality of nature. More information about the developments of the Noordsche Veld can be found via Oostervoortsche Diep | Noordwest - provincie Drenthe (refers to another website)