Earthen wall

In the ninth century, the fortress of Antwerp was fortified by a palisade, which was replaced by an earthen wall at the end of that century. In 2008-2009, archaeologists conducted research in the margin of works on a number of new-build projects. The studies showed that the earthen wall was made of cut sods (turf), sand and wood and that it was 13.5 metres wide and at least 4 metres high. The earthen wall followed exactly the same line as the stone fortress wall. In 2013, this wall was rediscovered, studied and visualised in the margin of the rebuilding of Vleeshuisstraat.