That may be the case, according to the Ministry of Culture. The otherwise harmonious natural landscape is currently disrupted by the Ardennes water distribution company’s (DEA) construction site. The DEA was working at the Kaschbuer spring until the new Minister of Culture Eric Thill vetoed the project on 23 January.
Veto from Minister of Culture
The excavations are taking place exactly where Roman vestiges were already outlined on plans from 1883. Before starting any archaeological excavations, approval must be obtained from specialists at the National Institute for Architectural Research in the Ministry of Culture, the INRA. This means that, in the DEA’s case, as confirmed in a letter from the Ministry of Culture, “archaeological diagnostic operations” must be carried out before works begin, along the entire route where the DEA intends to operate.
The DEA contests the Ministry of Culture’s statement and decision. However, according to RTL’s sources, the DEA’s request was made on 11 January, several months after the start of the construction works.
In the letter from the Minister of Culture, read to RTL by the mayor of Ehren, it mentions that there is a “potential archaeological interest,” and therefore, surveys would need to be conducted. On historical maps from the end of the 19th century, Roman vestiges were already marked near the Kaschbuer spring.
Findings of shards from before the Roman era, remains of an oven, and a paved road
The discovered shards have been declared to the INRA, but there is currently no information about potential collections. It is clear that archaeologists were on the site and found further shards, likely from the Bronze or Celtic period.
The archeological site was completed last autumn. The discovered artefacts and remains of the oven were already found in December 2023. On January 11, the DEA requested the authorisation to proceed with works. On January 23, the veto was issued, but the damage was already done.
Watch the video report in Luxembourgish
