Village Formation in the Netherlands during the Middle Ages (AD 800-1600) An assessment of recent excavations and a path to progress

This research report is about the formation and development of medieval villages in the Netherlands. The aim of the study was to determine what a decade of development-led archaeological (contract) research has yielded scientifically. Four case studies were analysed, revealing that the processes of village formation were quite similar on an abstract level and correspond with current settlement models. At the same time, however, these cases illustrated a great variety in form and development. Comparison with villages in the wider region showed that none of the villages from the case studies could be held as exemplary. This variety means that local factors and human agency played a key role in the development of our villages. The case studies illustrate the great potential of archaeological observations (even smallscale) when undertaken within a municipal research agenda based on an historical-geographical framework.