Archaeologists have uncovered a mysterious floor of bones during an investigation in the center of a city in the Netherlands.

The rare and unusual find came to light during the reconstruction of a building in Achterdam, a district in Alkmaar, a city in the province of North Holland.

In the middle of the work, a team of city archaeologists uncovered the remains of an old, very worn tiled floor. Although such a find is not unusual, the researchers noticed that in some parts the tiles had been replaced by bones.

Bovine bones are used – especially the metacarpal and metatarsal bones found in the lower limbs. All bones were cut to the same length. The bones appear to have been used to fill holes in the floor, although exactly why this decision was made remains unclear – as does the age of the fittings.

“We were very happy to have the opportunity to see this bone bed with our own eyes. It is always a privilege to uncover something from a long-gone era and add new information to Alkmaar’s history,” said Nancy de Jong. declaration.

These types of bone floors are very rare finds, but the handful of known examples typically date to the 15th century.

As for the recently unearthed example in Alkmaar, researchers are currently investigating how old it might be.

In principle, the stone floor could date from the 15th century, but the house that now stands on the site was not built until around 1609. However, it is possible that this house was built on the original, older foundations – a commonly seen phenomenon.

The main question arising from the latest discovery is why the bones were used to fill in parts of the tiled floor. The tiles were not particularly expensive in the rough period from which the floor may have come.

Archaeologists believe the bones may have been placed there for a special reason – perhaps because the design fit in well with whatever the building was being used for at the time. But the use of bones could also simply have been a cheap way to fill in the gaps in the tiled floor.

The researchers plan to continue examining the floor to see if the bones extend further than is currently visible and if the remains could reveal insights into how the space was used.

“The discovery of this floor is incredibly interesting. I am therefore glad that our archaeologists regularly get the opportunity to look at the projects together and that companies and residents know where to find them when they are needed,” Alkmaar Councilor for Heritage Anjo van de Ven said in a statement .

“There are still so many hidden stories waiting for our team of archaeologists to come and find them. I’m always excited when they call me with an update on a find.”