Archaeology

Dr Tanja Romankiewicz - Dutch National Archaeology Days

Dr Tanja Romankiewicz has been trialling sustainable building based on ancient lives in Almere, the Netherlands, as part of the 2017 Dutch National Archaeology Days. (Published 26 October, 2017)

Dr Tanja Romankiewicz

Together with the archaeological company Archaeobuild, local residents, an artist, eco-builders and Syrian refugees, Dr Tanja Romankiewicz put results from her research project 'Building (Ancient) Lives' into practice by constructing a test wall that will inform the design and construction of a new, dynamic home for Joost Fluitsma and his family at Almere, the Netherland.

Coming together on Friday and Saturday 13/14 October 2017, as part of the Dutch National Archaeology Days, the group built a short stretch of a double-wattle wall, filled with earth sourced on site. They demonstrated its practicability and discussed their different experiences in building with earth, from Scotland to Syria.

Dr Tanja Romankiewicz lecturing
Dr Tanja Romankiewicz at Almere during construction of the test wall

The construction was based on later prehistoric and Early Medieval northern European walls, researched by Dr Romankiewicz as part of her Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship project. This trial is the start of Joost Fluitsma’s project development for Blue Home Almere, a place to live and work together sustainably. The design idea for Mr Fluitsma’s new family home was inspired Dr Romankiewicz’s research on the dynamics of prehistoric architecture, of buildings that are much more mobile and flexible, and more sustainable than most modern homes.

Dr Tanja's Romankiewicz's staff profile

More information on the 'Building (Ancient) Lives: new perspectives on the past for a sustainable future project

Archaeo Build website: www.archaeobuild.com/

Dutch National Archaeology Days website: www.archeologiedagen.nl