Let me start by saying that what you are about to read is a rendition of a discussion taking place in the Netherlands in 2010.
Common Era. In the predominantly Christian village of Staphorst the provisional map of area's with archaeological value gave rise to commotion in the city counsil. The report mentions area's of archaeological and geological age that, according to the town counsil, are before the creation and therefor cannot exist. The Christian parties demand a Biblical perspective on the creation of the earth to be added.
Archaeological maps are legally mandatory for municipalities in the Netherlands so archaeological data can be taken into account when planning development. After the presentation of the map, alderman Sytse de Jong of the
Reformed Political Party (
SGP), responsible for the assignment of the map, noted that 'the municipality finances the report and therefore deserved to contain the Biblical view adhered to by a large part of the voters of Staphorst'. He proposed that 'the final report should at least start with a passage about the creation'. The consultant of the archaeological consultancy
BAAC replied that he has 'a scientific background and cannot ignore evidence indicating an age of tens of thousands of years. However 'unusual', BAAC is going to add the requested foreword.
Prehistoric finds in the vicinity of Staphorst. (Click to enlarge.) A1: canoo dugout with flint tools, ca. 10.000 BC; A2: dolmen, 3500 - 2700 BC; A7: Late-Palaeolithic flint pointed awl 50mm long; A9: Neolithic stone macehead; A11: Palaeolithic hand ax, ca. 13.000 BC; A12: Mesolithic seasonal camp indicated by traces and artefacts of hunter-gatherer activities; A13: Swifterband burial, associated with tools, grain and domestic animals indicating a agricultural life style, ca. 4000 BC. Source: Erfgoed langs weg en water (Dutch Department of Transport and Water).ForewordBAAC agreed to add a foreword to the Archaeological Map of Staphorst. It states that 'the text is intended as an introduction and forms as such not a part of the scientific content of the report. The report is therefore not scientifically adjusted.'
This Archaeological Forecast Maps and the explanatory report to the municipality Staphorst are established on the basis of scientifically proven facts, theories and interpretations. For the dating of sites in the map and the classification of archaeological periods BAAC uses the common scientific basis of an Earth that is billions of years old, based on radiometric dating of rocks.
The city of Staphorst states in this regard that a majority of the council does not share this point of view, because of their religion and their interpretation of the Bible. This interpretation of a young Earth is based in creationism. Duly noted.
PrayerAlderman De Jong expects no problems for the practise of archaeological research. 'Practical problems need not arise', he stated, when combining a biblical view on the history of the area with the scientific archaeological map. 'We could for instance examine how Staphorst has changed location several times. This goes back perhaps 1400 years, so about that period there is no dispute.' It makes you wonder, however, how Staphorster archaeologists are supposed to deal with finds older than 4000 BC. Presumably, when hitting on these layers, they pray for elections.
Experience PrehistoryAmateur archaeologists in Staphorst continue to excavate in the area and educate children the principles of archaeological fieldwork. In 2008 the exhibition
Experience Prehistory took place in a local centre for nature and history. The finds included the Palaeolithic awl and Neolithic macehead shown above. Prior to this exhibition, the awl had been on display in the town hall of Staphorst. An information panel of the Dutch Tourism Board proudly points the way to where it was found.
