Archaeology in the Netherlands: Delta archaeology

Because of the special nature of the archaeological patrimony archaeology in the Netherlands can be called ‘delta archaeology’. A characteristic feature is its close association with Holocene geology. The research in both disciplines was intensified after each catastrophic flood in the past. A basic concern about physical safety may therefore in part explain the preoccupation of Dutch archaeologists with the relation of man to his aquatic environment, which can be amply illustrated in recent Dutch archaeological research