Papers by stijn arnoldussen
Palaeohistoria 65/66 (2025/2026), 2026
This paper explores the historical and cultural significance of bog trackways in the Netherlands ... more This paper explores the historical and cultural significance of bog trackways in the Netherlands from 3200 BC to AD 200. For three case-study regions, it focuses on the construction, use, and depositions placed near bog trackways-wooden pathways built across marshes and peat bogs that were present in various parts of the Netherlands in prehistory. These trackways are not only seen as functional routes but also as integral parts of the cultural landscape, reflecting the social and ritual practices of Neolithic, Bronze Age, and Iron Age communities. The article challenges traditional perceptions of bog trackways as mere utilitarian structures, instead presenting them as complex cultural artifacts. It discusses how these trackways were constructed, maintained, and eventually abandoned, offering insights into the technological skills and social organization of prehistoric societies. The authors also examine the environmental context, highlighting how changes in climate and landscape influenced the development and use of these pathways. By revisiting existing archaeological data and incorporating recent finds, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the role of bog trackways in shaping the cultural and physical landscape of the Netherlands. It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding these ancient structures, combining archaeological, environmental, and anthropological perspectives. The article concludes by underscoring the need for further research to fully uncover the multifaceted roles of bog trackways in prehistoric communities, suggesting that these pathways were more than just practical routes-they were symbolic and ritual spaces that played a significant role in the daily lives and cultural practices of ancient societies. Some Neolithic trackways, such as the Nieuw-Dordrecht trackway, required massive deforestation and labor, suggesting its significance lay in communal effort rather than practical use, as it never fully traversed the bog. Bronze Age trackways were generally narrow, and likely used for resource extraction or ritual purposes, with deposits being placed along and away from the paths. Iron Age trackways appear more focused on connectivity, with improvements like heather sods and sand to support wheeled transport, though their use was often short-lived due to peat growth. The paper highlights how trackway construction and associated deposits reflect both practical and symbolic purposes, with communal labor and ritual significance often outweighing logistical aims. Depositional patterns show a preference for placing objects away from trackways, emphasizing the bog's role as both resource-rich and sacred space, a space ideally ventured into via a bog trackway.
LUNULA. Archaeologia protohistorica, 2026
In 1989, Eugène Warmenbol published an overview of the Belgian winged axes, and listed an exampl... more In 1989, Eugène Warmenbol published an overview of the Belgian winged axes, and listed an example from P[i]etersheim that he could not study firsthand. It was deemed lost due to severe bombing of the museum that housed it in WW2. Seven years earlier, S.J. De Laet in his "La Belgique d’avant les Romains" similarly lamented that this winged axe may have originated from a hoard whose composition was unknown, but may also have comprised socketed axes (De Laet 1982, p. 496). Unknown to both authors, this axe – and two other Pietersheim axes – was however already "redisco vered" in 1976. It would take until 2025 for the last two axes to "reappear". In this contribution, we document the storyline of the Pietersheim axes and reflect on their association and composition.
Lunula 33, 2025
Jay Butler collected a lot of data on Belgian axes and hoards as part of his preparations for a P... more Jay Butler collected a lot of data on Belgian axes and hoards as part of his preparations for a PBF volume on the bronzes of the Low Countries (including northern France, Belgium and the Nertherlands), which however was never realised. In 2024, permission was obtained to share this data with other scholars. In this paper we present the nature of the data, its limitations, and extend an invitation to collaborate.
Heathlands Beyond Scenery Perspectives on Diachronic and Geographical Ecological and Anthropological Diversity, in: M. Løvschal & K. Grønneberg, A Place for Heathlands?, Jutland Archaeological Society Publications (ISBN: 978-87-93423-73-2), 2025
Are the Dutch heathlands truly the vast, timeless landscapes of purple that we imagine? Or do the... more Are the Dutch heathlands truly the vast, timeless landscapes of purple that we imagine? Or do these perceptions mask a richer and more complex ecological and cultural history? This contribution challenges the prevailing narrative of the Dutch heathlands as static and uniform, arguing instead for a more nuanced and localized understanding of their development over time. As we uncover the ecological and anthropological diversity embedded in these landscapes, we can move beyond simplistic tropes to explore the dynamic interplay between environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that have shaped the heathlands’ evolution.
Arnoldussen, S., F. Ruiter, H. Steegstra, J. van der Laan, B. van Os & G. van Oortmerssen, 2024, A Tréboul type spearhead from Twisk, in: P. van de Geer, A. Müller, M.D.R. Schurmans & N. de Vries (eds.), Metaaltijden 11. Bijdragen in de studie van de metaaltijden, Leiden: Sidestone press, 11-24. Metaaltijden 11, 2024
A detector find of a Tréboult type spearhead from Twist (West-Friesland) is discussed. It is date... more A detector find of a Tréboult type spearhead from Twist (West-Friesland) is discussed. It is dated by its wooden ash (Fraxinus) shaft preserved to to c. 1867-1542 BCE. The composition of the alloy was determined with pXRF analysis of the outside patina and a drilled core sample. The alloy fits well within the corpus of other Dutch Tréboul spearheads. Like other examples, the Twisk Tréboul spearhead is created from a tin-copper bronze, with other elements represented in minor quantities. After tin (c. 9.9 %wt), arsenic is the most prominent element (c. 0.45 %wt), with nickel (c. 0.29 %wt) as the only other element above 0.1 %wt. Antimony (c. 0.07 %wt), silver (c. 0.03 %wt) and lead (c. 0.02 %) are rare. Presumably, the Great Orme mine in Wales supplied the base ores. We suggest that this spearhead ended up in Twisk as part of the exchange systems upheld by (near)coastal communities in the northwestern Netherlands (and not overland from a Meuse-river / eastern coversand landscape origin). The decidedly non-local appearance of the Twisk and other Tréboul spearheads from the Netherlands, will have been an immediate and visual reminder of the ways in which local communities such as the Bronze Age farmers of Twisk were integrated into a much bigger supra-regional collective. 
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Papers by stijn arnoldussen