Establishing the dates of farm sites (a.d. 800–present) in Salland (the Netherlands): An interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

We present an interdisciplinary method for establishing date ranges of farm sites (A.D. 800-present) and reconstructing regional settlement dynamics. An experimental field strategy was designed to refine estimates regarding the ages of individual farmsteads based on historical data and physical and historical geography. Archaeological test pitting was employed to recover settlement debris in carefully selected locations. In the course of one week, we investigated 13 farm sites and were able to refine age estimates using artifactual evidence. The field strategy is applicable in situations where concentrations of settlement debris related to farm sites are buried under younger sediments.