OR 49, Flevoland (Netherlands)

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The International Fieldschool for Maritime Archaeology Flevoland, or IFMAF, was an educational program that brought together some of Europe's top institutions to share their expertise with a new generation of archaeologists. The University of Groningen partnered with the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency, the province of Flevoland, and the municipality of Lelystad, as well as the Nieuw Land Heritage Center, to create an immersive learning experience that would equip students with the skills they needed to succeed in maritime archaeology. Each year, the IFMAF program culminated in a field school where researchers, students, and volunteers worked together to excavate a shipwreck in Flevoland. This was no ordinary excavation - it took place on land, under controlled conditions that allowed participants to learn specific field techniques without the risks associated with underwater excavation. A. van Holk and Y. van Popta were the masterminds behind this innovative approach, supervising every stage of the excavation process. In 2014 and 2015, the team made a groundbreaking discovery - the remains of a Dutch freighter from the 17th century. As they carefully uncovered the wreckage, they found that the ship's board side had collapsed onto its starboard side, creating a complex puzzle to unravel. The wooden remnants were badly preserved, having been exposed to the elements for centuries. However, by the time the team reached this stage of the excavation, they had already made significant progress in cleaning out the interior of the starboard side.