The remains of a Carolingian fortress in the Limburg town of Lanaken are receiving protection as an archaeological site Flemish heritage minister Matthias Diependaele (Flemish nationalist/N-VA) has decided. The site lies next to the Roman road leading to the famous Dutch city of Maastricht and is exceptionally well preserved and unique in Flanders.
The Carolingian fortifications were discovered seven years ago during clay mining along the Industrieweg and the Twee Kronenlegerweg in Lanaken.
Only the edge of the site is currently visible. A large part is still covered in soil and possibly extends across the border into the Netherlands.
The fortress is inspired on earlier Roman military structures. It is the first military encampment from this period discovered in Flanders. The fortress controlled the access road to the River Maas (Meuse) and the city of Maastricht around CE 750.
The site is particularly well preserved. To safeguard it for the future, the entire area is now permanently protected. Even detectoring is now forbidden on the site.
Further research will be carried out to increase understanding of the significance of these fortifications and to find out by whom they were constructed and why on this location.