Presenting ‘invisible’ sites in situ

with the Soil Slider

Marijn Van Gils, Jan Bastiaens, Joris Steenhoudt, Natalie Huyghe,

Bas Van der Veken & Karen Vancampenhout

Pentre Ifan, UK

Corinth, Gr Old Oswestry, UK

Weelde, BE

Stein, NLSomeren, NL

Arendonk, BE

Meeuwen, BE

de bodemschuifLommel, BE

Wuustwezel, BE

Meeuwen, BE Lommel, BE

de bodemschuifLommel, BE

Veldwezelt, Be

de bodemschuifDomunder, Utrecht, NL

Tongeren, BE

Landschap De Liereman (BE)

de bodemschuif

ploughed podsol

artefacts

B-horizon podsol

C-horizon

top Usselo soil

base Usselo soil

horizontally layered sands

obliquely layered sands

erosion level

Landschap De Liereman: popular 1000 ha large nature reserve with:

- visitor centre

- network of walking and cycling routes

- 80 000 visistors/year

Great context for presenting archaeology!

But: respect for landschape and nature values

Requirements:Application:

- Discrete (no visual ‘polution’)

- inviting and surprising (Waw! – effect)

- clear and insightful (Aha! – effect)

- applicable at other sites

Technical:

- passive (no electricity)

- easy to operate

- safe

- resistent to: - weather

- sand

- condensation

- algae and fungi

- vandalism

- easy to clean and maintain

Concept Appeltien Engineering

22 oktober 2016 — 1000 jaar landschap en landbouw in de Kempen

Keys to succes

- Intense cooperation between:

- scientists & communication specialists

- heritage & nature sectors

- public, non-profit & private sectors

- Developing goals & concept: story, visual elements, target audience, requirements, …

- First developing concept,

then searching for funds

- Taking our time

Presenting ‘invisible’ sites in situ

with the Soil Slider

Marijn Van Gils, Jan Bastiaens, Joris Steenhoudt, Natalie Huyghe,

Bas Van der Veken & Karen Vancampenhout

Contact: marijn.vangils@vlaanderen.be