Editing Dorestad (section)

==Excavation==
To find out more about the settlement and its prominence in the early Middle Ages the site was excavated. Some excavations took place in the middle of the nineteenth century and the finds from them are now in the [[Rijksmuseum van Oudheden|National Museum of Antiquities]] and the [[British Museum]].<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?place=30371&plaA=30371-3-2 British Museum Collection]</ref> The most important findings were discovered during an excavation that took place between 1967 and 1977.<ref>[http://www2.rgzm.de/Navis2/Harbours/Morel/JaapEnLucas/DorestadEngels.htm The Early-Medieval harbour of Dorestad. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2013.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308164226/http://www2.rgzm.de/Navis2/Harbours/Morel/JaapEnLucas/DorestadEngels.htm |date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref> About 30 hectare were exposed during the excavation and much was learned about the physical parameters of the settlement. It was discovered Dorestad was situated one mile north of [[Wijk bij Duurstede]] and was approximately 3 square kilometres in size. This is considered a large settlement for the time period.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

It is believed that the settlement was separated into three districts: a [[harbour]] ("Lower town"), a trading centre located on the left bank ("Upper town"), and an agricultural area located further inland.<ref name="Tuuk"/> Upper and lower town were connected by a single road which acted as the 'backbone' of the town. The remnants of this road can still be seen today.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Only the "lower town" was excavated by archaeologists as much of Dorestad was eroded away by the river bend. When the harbour was excavated the remains of wooden causeways which would have allowed for easy unloading of goods were discovered. These findings correlate to the development of trade on the [[Rhine]]. It is believed that [[wine]] from the vineyards South of [[Mainz]] was one of the most prominent products traded in Dorestad.<ref>Hodges, Richard. Mohammed, Charlemagne & the Origins of Europe: Archaeology and the Pirenne Thesis. N.p.: Cornell University Press, 1983. 99-100. Google Books. Web. 1 Nov. 2013</ref>  Old wine barrels have been excavated in Dorestad. It is also thought that glassware and lava querns for grinding corn were also transported to Dorestad for trading. The existence of these imports allowed Dorestad's economy to grow substantially.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

While the "upper town" was never excavated, the soil of the site has been examined and tested positive for [[phosphates]] that confirm its existence. Some Carolingian artefacts have been found over the years in the trading centre; however, the majority of items discovered date back to the Roman fortress that was established prior to the 7th Century. This may be because the residents of Dorestad used the [[tufa]] blocks from the Roman fortress as building material.<ref name="Tuuk"/> It is thought that the royal administrators were situated in the Upper Town.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The Christian church was granted a piece of land in both the Upper and Lower Town.  Next to the agricultural sector remains of a building were found as well as many graves. It is assumed that this area comprised the Lower church.<ref name="Tuuk"/>

The conception of the Upper and Lower township is supported not only by archaeological evidence, but a poem was discovered by the English clergyman [[Alcuin]], written at the end of the 8th century, referring to the town as ''Dorstada'' which is a pluralization of the name.<ref name="Tuuk"/>

:Hinc tua vela leva, fugiens Dorstada relinque:
:Non tibi forte niger Hrotberct parat hospita tecta,
:Nec amat ecce tuum carmen mercator avarus.

:Hoist your sails, flee and leave behind the (towns of) Dorestad:
:You do not have the fortune of a hospitable roof offered by Black Hrotberct,
:Nor does the greedy merchant love your poem.