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Papers by Fred Heller

Les fouilles de sauvetage à Braine l'Alleud se sont déroulées du 15 mars au 07 juillet 20... more Les fouilles de sauvetage à Braine l'Alleud se sont déroulées du 15 mars au 07 juillet 2006. Le Service de l'archéologie (MRW, Direction du Brabant wallon) est intervenu suite à un projet de lotissement de la société MATEXI. Le site du Bosquet del Vau est référencé à l'inventaire archéologique du Brabant.

Visualising Skyscapes, 2019

The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot... more The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot of the Hesbaye plateau of middle Belgium. Here a series of 15 unusually deep-rooted post holes were uncovered. They all reach to and bore into the underlying sandstone bedrock, at a depth of up to 1.4 metres. Their position, spacing and diameter rule out the possibility that they could have been used as part of a building. All of the posts show clear evidence of being ripped out of their holes. 3-D simulations carried out at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut in Vienna showed that when considering an alignment consisting of two deep posts and an astronomical event on the landscape horizon as the third point of the line, sightlines to both the summer solstice sunrise and sunset were discovered. Further alignments to the cross-quarter risings and settings of the sun were also noted, with three others aimed towards the major lunar standstills. Given that they use a specific type of deep post it does support both the archaeoastronomical relevance of the site and intentionality for the summer solstice and possibly also for the cross-quarter days observations.

Revue archéologique de Picardie. Numéro spécial, 2011

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verstandnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbaut... more Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verstandnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbauten mittels Verteilungskarten des Phosphors und deren Evolution. Ein besonderer Akzent liegt auf den jungeren Studien mehrerer endneolithischer Hauser. Die Karten wurden mithilfe von systematischen Phosphortests und einigen gezielteren Gesamt-Phosphatanalysen erstellt. Im Bereich der Funktionszuweisung und der Organisation der Gebaude zeichnen sich bereits einige Tendenzen ab, selbst wenn nicht alle Studien dieser Gebaude abgeschlossen sind. Die ersten Ergebnisse lassen grundlegende Aspekte der Methodologie und Taphonomie erkennen und ermoglichen es die zukunftigen Studien in den betroffenen Regionen zu orientieren.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2015

The abbatial complex of Nivelles, erected in the 7th Century, was composed of three churches: Not... more The abbatial complex of Nivelles, erected in the 7th Century, was composed of three churches: Notre-Dame, St. Paul, and Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude (Figure 1). Notre-Dame was initially the abbey church and later became the parish church. The church of St. Paul housed a male community. Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude, named for first abbess Gertrude, was initially the funeral church. It later received St. Gertrude's body and became the main church. Renovations at the Grand Place of Nivelles disturbed the subsoil in the historical heart of the city from early March 2009 until January 2011. Although some features excavated at Nivelles were known from ancient texts, many are new to the historical record of the region. Given the significant impact of the unearthing of such features, the Department of Archaeology of the Public Service of Wallonia intervened in the renovation efforts. The archaeological excavations uncovered seven distinct sets of features: 1) scattered features older than the abbey, 2) a tiler's work area, 3) a graveyard to the west, 4) St. Paul's church, 5) the church of Notre-Dame with its parish cemetery, 6) the abbey's district, and 7) parts of roads. The cemetery west of the St. Pierre/St. Gertrude church (dating to approximately 1000 A.D.) drew attention due to its excellent state of preservation. Multiple burials and anaerobic conditions allowed for optimal preservation of organic materials.

Visualising Skyscapes: Material Forms of Cultural Engagement with the Heavens, 2019

The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot... more The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot of the Hesbaye plateau of middle Belgium. Here a series of 15 unusually deep-rooted post holes were uncovered. They all reach to and bore into the underlying sandstone bedrock, at a depth of up to 1.4 metres. Their position, spacing and diameter rule out the possibility that they could have been used as part of a building. All of the posts show clear evidence of being ripped out of their holes. 3-D simulations carried out at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut in Vienna showed that when considering an alignment consisting of two deep posts and an astronomical event on the landscape horizon as the third point of the line, sightlines to both the summer solstice sunrise and sunset were discovered. Further alignments to the cross-quarter risings and settings of the sun were also noted, with three others aimed towards the major lunar standstills. Given that they use a specific type of deep post it does support both the archaeoastronomical relevance of the site and intentionality for the summer solstice and possibly also for the cross-quarter days observations.

Summary: The Neolithic site of the Bosquet del Vau is located in the Brabant Province in Belgium.... more Summary:
The Neolithic site of the Bosquet del Vau is located in the Brabant Province in Belgium. Two different rescue excavations took place on the site both in 2006 and 2007 : the first was subsequent to a housing project of about 110 houses, the latter to the building of the R.E.R. (Express Regional Transportation System).
The site was discovered in the 1980 by a group of three teenagers going flint tools hunting all around Waterloo and Braine l’Alleud. Flint tools pertaining to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age were recovered on site as well as some Mesolithic flint tools.
The site is located on a small sandy hill and covers 2.5 hectares. Steep slopes surround it to the west and north-west and gentler ones to the northeast and south, an isthmus exists to the east linking it o the plateau.
The settlement is protected by a palisade to the east and south, a wide ditch links the palisade to the nearly valley to the west. The western side of the hill has seen its slope artificially steepened as did part of the northern side. No palisade was found on either of those two sides.
Part of one house and a complete second one were discovered in 2006 and 2007. They are aligned north to south, 18 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. A narrow ditch houses the post holes, posts are maximum 0.30 m in diameter and spaced evenly. Central posts suggest a two-sloped roof. No hearth was found inside of the first house, the one of the second has yet to be associated with the house.
A phosphate map was made in both cases, evidence points to a house divided into three parts, with maybe a cattle area next to the second one.
Potsherds recovered in two postholes of the 2007 house fit together and could be dated to the Late Neolithic Period.
Flint tools are mostly micro-denticulates though a few polished axes fragments have been discovered as well as arrowheads and a beautifully knapped flint knife.
The various types of stones used: from black flintstone to Parisian

Revue Archéologique de Picardie, 2011

Résumé L’objectif de ce travail est la meilleure compréhension de l’affectation des bâtiments all... more Résumé
L’objectif de ce travail est la meilleure compréhension de l’affectation des bâtiments allongés du Néolithique
par le biais de cartographies du phosphore et de leur évolution. Un accent particulier est mis sur les dernières
études récentes qui comprennent plusieurs maisons du Néolithique final. Les cartographies ont été menées à
l’aide de tests de phosphore systématiques et de quelques analyses de phosphate total plus ciblées. Certaines
tendances se dessinent en matière d’affectation et d’organisation des bâtiments, même si les études de ces
bâtiments ne sont pas toutes achevées. Des aspects fondamentaux de méthodologie et de taphonomie
ressortent de ces premiers résultats et permettent d’orienter les études futures dans les régions concernées.
Mots-clefs : bâtiments, néolithique, phosphore, pédologie, susceptibilité magnétique
Abstract
The goal of this paper is a better understanding of the use of neolithic longhouses by phosphorus cartographies,
as well as the evolution of this use. A special accent is put on most recent results that include a number of Late
Neolithic houses. The cartographies have been based on systematic phosphorus tests and some more focalized
analyses of total phosphate. Certain tendencies are appearing in terms of house organisation and use, even if all
the studies and analyses are not yet finalized. Some fundamental aspects of methodology and taphonomy are
also the result of these first attempts and permit to orient future studies in the concerned regions.
Keywords : houses, neolithic, phosphorus, soil science, magnetic susceptibility
Zusammenfassung
Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verständnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbauten mittels
Verteilungskarten des Phosphors und deren Evolution. Ein besonderer Akzent liegt auf den jüngeren Studien
mehrerer endneolithischer Häuser. Die Karten wurden mithilfe von systematischen Phosphortests und einigen
gezielteren Gesamt-Phosphatanalysen erstellt. Im Bereich der Funktionszuweisung und der Organisation
der Gebäude zeichnen sich bereits einige Tendenzen ab, selbst wenn nicht alle Studien dieser Gebäude
abgeschlossen sind. Die ersten Ergebnisse lassen grundlegende Aspekte der Methodologie und Taphonomie
erkennen und ermöglichen es die zukünftigen Studien in den betroffenen Regionen zu orientieren.
Schlüsselwörter : Gebäude, Neolithikum, Phosphor, Pedologie, magnetische Suszeptibiltät.
Traduction : Isa odenhardt-donvez (donvezservit@wanadoo.fr).

A previously unknown fixed polishing stone was found by me during some field research in 1999, I ... more A previously unknown fixed polishing stone was found by me during some field research in 1999, I was looking for the neolithic polissoir stone which stands on the next hill at a distance of 480 m from this one, and, when field walking the entire outcrop, I stumbled upon this one. One U shaped groove might be neolithic too, but the V shaped ones are more likely to be from the Metal Ages

Les fouilles de sauvetage à Braine l'Alleud se sont déroulées du 15 mars au 07 juillet 20... more Les fouilles de sauvetage à Braine l'Alleud se sont déroulées du 15 mars au 07 juillet 2006. Le Service de l'archéologie (MRW, Direction du Brabant wallon) est intervenu suite à un projet de lotissement de la société MATEXI. Le site du Bosquet del Vau est référencé à l'inventaire archéologique du Brabant.

Visualising Skyscapes, 2019

The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot... more The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot of the Hesbaye plateau of middle Belgium. Here a series of 15 unusually deep-rooted post holes were uncovered. They all reach to and bore into the underlying sandstone bedrock, at a depth of up to 1.4 metres. Their position, spacing and diameter rule out the possibility that they could have been used as part of a building. All of the posts show clear evidence of being ripped out of their holes. 3-D simulations carried out at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut in Vienna showed that when considering an alignment consisting of two deep posts and an astronomical event on the landscape horizon as the third point of the line, sightlines to both the summer solstice sunrise and sunset were discovered. Further alignments to the cross-quarter risings and settings of the sun were also noted, with three others aimed towards the major lunar standstills. Given that they use a specific type of deep post it does support both the archaeoastronomical relevance of the site and intentionality for the summer solstice and possibly also for the cross-quarter days observations.

Revue archéologique de Picardie. Numéro spécial, 2011

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verstandnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbaut... more Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verstandnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbauten mittels Verteilungskarten des Phosphors und deren Evolution. Ein besonderer Akzent liegt auf den jungeren Studien mehrerer endneolithischer Hauser. Die Karten wurden mithilfe von systematischen Phosphortests und einigen gezielteren Gesamt-Phosphatanalysen erstellt. Im Bereich der Funktionszuweisung und der Organisation der Gebaude zeichnen sich bereits einige Tendenzen ab, selbst wenn nicht alle Studien dieser Gebaude abgeschlossen sind. Die ersten Ergebnisse lassen grundlegende Aspekte der Methodologie und Taphonomie erkennen und ermoglichen es die zukunftigen Studien in den betroffenen Regionen zu orientieren.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2015

The abbatial complex of Nivelles, erected in the 7th Century, was composed of three churches: Not... more The abbatial complex of Nivelles, erected in the 7th Century, was composed of three churches: Notre-Dame, St. Paul, and Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude (Figure 1). Notre-Dame was initially the abbey church and later became the parish church. The church of St. Paul housed a male community. Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude, named for first abbess Gertrude, was initially the funeral church. It later received St. Gertrude's body and became the main church. Renovations at the Grand Place of Nivelles disturbed the subsoil in the historical heart of the city from early March 2009 until January 2011. Although some features excavated at Nivelles were known from ancient texts, many are new to the historical record of the region. Given the significant impact of the unearthing of such features, the Department of Archaeology of the Public Service of Wallonia intervened in the renovation efforts. The archaeological excavations uncovered seven distinct sets of features: 1) scattered features older than the abbey, 2) a tiler's work area, 3) a graveyard to the west, 4) St. Paul's church, 5) the church of Notre-Dame with its parish cemetery, 6) the abbey's district, and 7) parts of roads. The cemetery west of the St. Pierre/St. Gertrude church (dating to approximately 1000 A.D.) drew attention due to its excellent state of preservation. Multiple burials and anaerobic conditions allowed for optimal preservation of organic materials.

Visualising Skyscapes: Material Forms of Cultural Engagement with the Heavens, 2019

The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot... more The site of Linsmeau is located on a colluvial beach north of the Petite Gette River, at the foot of the Hesbaye plateau of middle Belgium. Here a series of 15 unusually deep-rooted post holes were uncovered. They all reach to and bore into the underlying sandstone bedrock, at a depth of up to 1.4 metres. Their position, spacing and diameter rule out the possibility that they could have been used as part of a building. All of the posts show clear evidence of being ripped out of their holes. 3-D simulations carried out at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institut in Vienna showed that when considering an alignment consisting of two deep posts and an astronomical event on the landscape horizon as the third point of the line, sightlines to both the summer solstice sunrise and sunset were discovered. Further alignments to the cross-quarter risings and settings of the sun were also noted, with three others aimed towards the major lunar standstills. Given that they use a specific type of deep post it does support both the archaeoastronomical relevance of the site and intentionality for the summer solstice and possibly also for the cross-quarter days observations.

Summary: The Neolithic site of the Bosquet del Vau is located in the Brabant Province in Belgium.... more Summary:
The Neolithic site of the Bosquet del Vau is located in the Brabant Province in Belgium. Two different rescue excavations took place on the site both in 2006 and 2007 : the first was subsequent to a housing project of about 110 houses, the latter to the building of the R.E.R. (Express Regional Transportation System).
The site was discovered in the 1980 by a group of three teenagers going flint tools hunting all around Waterloo and Braine l’Alleud. Flint tools pertaining to the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age were recovered on site as well as some Mesolithic flint tools.
The site is located on a small sandy hill and covers 2.5 hectares. Steep slopes surround it to the west and north-west and gentler ones to the northeast and south, an isthmus exists to the east linking it o the plateau.
The settlement is protected by a palisade to the east and south, a wide ditch links the palisade to the nearly valley to the west. The western side of the hill has seen its slope artificially steepened as did part of the northern side. No palisade was found on either of those two sides.
Part of one house and a complete second one were discovered in 2006 and 2007. They are aligned north to south, 18 meters long and 4.5 meters wide. A narrow ditch houses the post holes, posts are maximum 0.30 m in diameter and spaced evenly. Central posts suggest a two-sloped roof. No hearth was found inside of the first house, the one of the second has yet to be associated with the house.
A phosphate map was made in both cases, evidence points to a house divided into three parts, with maybe a cattle area next to the second one.
Potsherds recovered in two postholes of the 2007 house fit together and could be dated to the Late Neolithic Period.
Flint tools are mostly micro-denticulates though a few polished axes fragments have been discovered as well as arrowheads and a beautifully knapped flint knife.
The various types of stones used: from black flintstone to Parisian

Revue Archéologique de Picardie, 2011

Résumé L’objectif de ce travail est la meilleure compréhension de l’affectation des bâtiments all... more Résumé
L’objectif de ce travail est la meilleure compréhension de l’affectation des bâtiments allongés du Néolithique
par le biais de cartographies du phosphore et de leur évolution. Un accent particulier est mis sur les dernières
études récentes qui comprennent plusieurs maisons du Néolithique final. Les cartographies ont été menées à
l’aide de tests de phosphore systématiques et de quelques analyses de phosphate total plus ciblées. Certaines
tendances se dessinent en matière d’affectation et d’organisation des bâtiments, même si les études de ces
bâtiments ne sont pas toutes achevées. Des aspects fondamentaux de méthodologie et de taphonomie
ressortent de ces premiers résultats et permettent d’orienter les études futures dans les régions concernées.
Mots-clefs : bâtiments, néolithique, phosphore, pédologie, susceptibilité magnétique
Abstract
The goal of this paper is a better understanding of the use of neolithic longhouses by phosphorus cartographies,
as well as the evolution of this use. A special accent is put on most recent results that include a number of Late
Neolithic houses. The cartographies have been based on systematic phosphorus tests and some more focalized
analyses of total phosphate. Certain tendencies are appearing in terms of house organisation and use, even if all
the studies and analyses are not yet finalized. Some fundamental aspects of methodology and taphonomy are
also the result of these first attempts and permit to orient future studies in the concerned regions.
Keywords : houses, neolithic, phosphorus, soil science, magnetic susceptibility
Zusammenfassung
Ziel dieser Arbeit ist ein besseres Verständnis der Funktionszuweisung der neolithischen Langbauten mittels
Verteilungskarten des Phosphors und deren Evolution. Ein besonderer Akzent liegt auf den jüngeren Studien
mehrerer endneolithischer Häuser. Die Karten wurden mithilfe von systematischen Phosphortests und einigen
gezielteren Gesamt-Phosphatanalysen erstellt. Im Bereich der Funktionszuweisung und der Organisation
der Gebäude zeichnen sich bereits einige Tendenzen ab, selbst wenn nicht alle Studien dieser Gebäude
abgeschlossen sind. Die ersten Ergebnisse lassen grundlegende Aspekte der Methodologie und Taphonomie
erkennen und ermöglichen es die zukünftigen Studien in den betroffenen Regionen zu orientieren.
Schlüsselwörter : Gebäude, Neolithikum, Phosphor, Pedologie, magnetische Suszeptibiltät.
Traduction : Isa odenhardt-donvez (donvezservit@wanadoo.fr).

A previously unknown fixed polishing stone was found by me during some field research in 1999, I ... more A previously unknown fixed polishing stone was found by me during some field research in 1999, I was looking for the neolithic polissoir stone which stands on the next hill at a distance of 480 m from this one, and, when field walking the entire outcrop, I stumbled upon this one. One U shaped groove might be neolithic too, but the V shaped ones are more likely to be from the Metal Ages

Coprolites were recovered from three burials near the Grand Place of Nivelles, Belgium. These re... more Coprolites were recovered from three burials near the Grand Place of Nivelles, Belgium. These remains yielded evidence of geohelminth parasitism and lent themselves to an analysis of differential parasite egg preservation demonstrating the effects of taphonomic factors on archaeoparasitological evidence. Using standard coprolite analysis techniques, parasite egg concentrations were quantified for each burial. Coprolites from the individual in Burial 122 were abnormally large and abundant, indicating an intestinal blockage. Additionally, this individual hosted an extremely high number parasites; evinced by the calculated parasite egg concentrations for all Burial 122 coprolites (Trichurus trichiura = 1,577,679 eggs per coprolite [epc]; Ascaris lumbricoides = 202,350 epc). Statistical analyses revealed a positive and significant correlation between A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura egg presence (eggs per gram [epg]: r2 = 0.583; epc: r2 = 0.71). All Student's t-tests showed significant differences in the mean number of parasite eggs found in burials that were covered versus uncovered. Taking extreme parasitism into consideration, the possible causes of the intestinal blockage are discussed.