Monday 16 July 2012: Ezinge

This is the prehistorical mound of Ezinge*. People lived here from the Iron Age on. Most of that time without any dykes! We're staying in this village, all four of us, for a few days in the house of friends.

100 years ago all small manmade safety hills like this terp were excavated because of their fertile soil. (Fertile: ages of waist piled up and composted.) Archeologist and mound pioneer Prof. Van Giffen (1884-1973) pointed out the cultural wealth hidden in the accumulated layers and saved other mounds from being sold to horticulturists. (Shoveled by hand in lorries and boats, advertised in newspapers, 55 cent per tonne).

Van Giffen also started to write the fine history of the landscape in the north of the Netherlands.

It is almost impossible to be here without acknowledging the immense and ongoing design and planning to live here at sealevel. It's f. i. amazing how many old seadykes are preserved in the landscape all around and how far away the sea is now. The sea, as vigorous and dangerous as before. But remarkable fact: it was as well a fight as a cooperation with the water. Using sediments and tidal structures to create land.

* (terp, Warft)

Thnx, all you people, for the nice comments on the cycle tour, depending on the weather we ride back or take a train ( not preferred). Later on I will look back at all your beautiful pics. Have a good time!

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