BIERUM (GR.), DRIESTROMENLAND
Samenvatting
The occupation history of the unprotected marsh in the area of Bierum is reconstructed on the basis of the development of the coastal area in general. In the Groningen marine-clay district, habitation started in the 6th century BC. Dwelling mounds were built for protection from high floods which occurred during transgression periods. The first generation of terpen is represented by round mounds with characteristic radial parcelting such as Godlinze, Losdorp and Spijk. In the Roman era habitation expanded and new dwelling mounds were built, such as Bierum and Nansum. These are characterized by square or rectangular plots often divided by roads. Between AD 300 and 600 large parts of the area were flooded again. After dikes were built the situation became more or less safe, but il was not until 1718 that a dike was constructed which protected the clay district as a whole.