De Veluwe: a landscape of ancient traces
The burial mounds in the Veluwe have long been known, but innovative geophysical sensor research now reveals that there are also countless archaeological traces from various periods surrounding these mounds.
Goal/Research question
The archaeological site of Nunspeet-Vierhouten in the Veluwe features a collection of burial mounds dating back to the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. A total of 50 burial mounds have survived in the present landscape (figure 1). Until 2015, research focused exclusively on the mounds themselves, leaving the surrounding areas of these monuments largely unexplored. However, the people who lived in Nunspeet-Vierhouten at the time and were buried there made intensive use of the landscape. This likely means they left behind traces such as houses, roads, ditches, and waste pits.

The 2023 research was therefore aimed at uncovering archaeological traces near the burial mounds. Additionally, this project presented an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how valuable magnetometer surveys can be in the Netherlands under specific conditions.
Methodology
Magnetometry is a cost-effective sensor technique that can be used to map large areas in detail over a short period of time. The modified cesium magnetometer from Scintrex is a highly sensitive, handheld total field magnetometer, making it suitable for use on sites with some vegetation. By carrying the sensor by hand, measurements can be taken at a reasonable speed (figure 2). These advantages made the cesium magnetometer ideal for this research. Given that the area has long been known as heathland, the hope was that the soil remained relatively undisturbed, making it suitable for magnetometry.

Results
The known burial mounds at the site were not accessible for measurements due to tree cover. However, more burial structures have been uncovered in the immediate vicinity of these mounds, which are no longer visible in the current landscape. In addition, small graves and angular and oval house structures have been found. Massive ditch structures, resembling those discovered in the nearby site of Epe-Nierssen, have also been identified. These enormous double ditches may have served as boundaries surrounding the burial mounds.
Lessons Learned
- In the Netherlands, data from magnetometer surveys is typically difficult to use because the magnetic contrast between archaeological structures and the soil is quite low. This is due to the soil composition, high groundwater levels, and fluctuations in groundwater levels in the past.
- However, the fact that the surface of the Veluwe has remained largely undisturbed and has never been intensively used for modern agriculture allows specialists to recognize even structures with low contrast.
- The type of magnetometer is also crucial for mapping these traces. In this case, a total field magnetometer in a dual-sensor configuration with a sensor spacing of 50 cm proved to be an excellent choice.
- Magnetometers available on the market were originally designed for geological or military purposes. Therefore, it is recommended to modify the frame so that the sensors can be carried 30 cm above the ground. This enhances sensitivity and prevents interference from the ground.
References to reports
- Lambers, Laan: GAIA prospection report
Colophon
This case study was conducted by L. Lambers and W. Laan, in collaboration with the Municipality of Nunspeet and the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University.