Found in several places across the Netherlands, these floors made from precisely carved cattle bones, as opposed to inexpensive and widely available tile, remain mysterious to this day.
Heritage AlkmaarExperts remain baffled as to why cow bones were used in place of other materials like tile.
Archaeological excavations in Alkmaar, located in the Netherlands’ North Holland province, led researchers to the discovery of an intriguing, centuries-old floor made of animal bones. The bone flooring was found in a building on Achterdamn Street and marks a highly rare find.
The discovery came in the midst of an ongoing renovation project at a site that served as a house starting in approximately 1609. Archaeologists were granted access to inspect the building, and it wasn’t long before they made this fascinating discovery.
Centuries-Old Floor Made Of Intricately Cut Cow Bones Found In The Netherlands
When archaeologists came across this unique floor, made of metacarpal and metatarsal cow bones, they were both stunned and baffled. Each of the bones was cut to the same height, some with their tops facing up while others were laid flat with the cut side facing upward. The end result is a clear, discernible pattern.
Heritage AlkmaarThough the house in question dates to approximately 1609, experts aren’t sure exactly how old the cow bone floor is.
“We were very happy to have the opportunity to see this bone floor with our own eyes,” said Nancy de Jong, an archaeologist working on the project, in a press release. “It is always a privilege to uncover something from the distant past and contribute new information to the history of Alkmaar.”
This is not the first discovery of its kind in North Holland, though it is still quite rare.
In the past, similar floors have been found in other surrounding areas including Hoorn, Enkhuizen, and Edam. Researchers are still trying to put together a timeline for the floor’s construction, but initial estimates date it to sometime around the 15th century.
The building that currently stands there is dated to around 1609, but researchers noted that it could very well have been built on top of the foundations of another building.
Heritage AlkmaarThough floors like this one have been found elsewhere in the Netherlands, researchers still aren’t sure why they made this way.
As for why bones were used in the construction of this floor, the reasons remain mysterious.
The Enduring Mystery Of Animal Bone Flooring
In addition to the date of the floor’s construction, researchers are left wondering why, exactly, the floor was made of bones, especially when tile was inexpensive and commonplace at the time.
What is clear is that the bone floor was used to fill in worn-down patches of the tile floor that lines the rest of the room. Researchers noted that the tile floor itself was very worn down due to intensive use, but that doesn’t explain why bones, of all things, were used to patch it up.
One theory is simply that the bones may have been a cheap option that fit in well with the look of the rest of the flooring. Tile wasn’t particularly expensive at that time, but if the craftsperson who worked in the building worked with bone, using it for flooring may have been a good chance to show off their skill.
Heritage AlkmaarThe bones were cut with precision and carefully arranged in a decorative pattern.
But whatever the reason, researchers are delighted to make such a unique discovery.
“Discovering this floor is incredibly interesting. I am therefore happy that our archaeologists regularly get the chance to look along on projects and that companies and residents know where to find them when they are needed,” said local heritage councilor Anjo van de Ven.
“There are still so many hidden stories, waiting for our team of archaeologists to come and find them. I am always excited when they call me with an update on a find.”
Officials announced that researchers would continue to examine the site and conduct additional analysis of the bone floor in the coming weeks. Their hope is that further research can shed light on some of the unanswered questions about this rare discovery.
After reading about this unique bit of floor, learn about the enchanting, street-less town of Giethoorn in the Netherlands. Then, learn about the fascinating cubic houses of Rotterdam.
