Each August, children and teenagers at this summer camp in Goeblange have the chance to step into the shoes of archaeologists. Over several days, participants sleep in tents, share meals, and work together to excavate a genuine Gallo-Roman villa.
The site includes a manor house and several outbuildings, thought to have been in use from the first to the fourth centuries, according to Jacques Bonifas, president of the organising association.
Led by experienced archaeologists, young campers focus on unearthing the ancient villa’s structures, including a series of ditches that once marked property boundaries or water features. Bonifas explained that the youth is continuing the excavation of these ditches. Previously, they have uncovered the eastern and western sections, and now the task is to find the three northern ditches and see how far they extend.
The camp’s main aim is to connect children with history in a hands-on way and inspire a long-lasting interest in archaeology. But the experience goes beyond the scientific work: living and working together at the camp fosters a unique sense of community among the young participants.
The children are visibly excited by their finds. One young camper told RTL that they were just digging in a field and thought that they have found a cow bone, probably a femur.
Another budding archaeologist added that he thinks that it is "really cool, because they are always together, playing and digging, and they keep discovering new things".
A fellow camper agreed, stating that he really likes it, especially because he makes lots of friends who he can always work together with.
For other children, teamwork is the highlight. One participant pointed out that he enjoys the experience because he gets to work as a team rather than alone.
The Goeblange site brings together not only local youth, but also students and foreign associations, who regularly join the excavations. Over the years, a wide range of artefacts have been uncovered. José Salhi, secretary of the Dutch association A.V. Philips van Horne, shared that this year, they are working on a level in the building where they are finding pottery.
They found a whole small pot, which is unusual, as normally they only find shards. Moreover, they have also come across fireplace remains.
Besides the archaeological work, the camp programme also includes a rally and an excursion, offering children and teenagers four days of discovering history differently.
