One of the essential characteristics of towns from the medieval to the modern period is the presence of a wide range of crafts. This synthesis assesses the currently available archaeological information regarding these crafts. For that purpose, all references to craft activities in archaeological reports from the period 1997-2017 were inventoried, resulting in hundreds of craft-related sites in or near towns.
The synthesis presents an overview of the nearly 70 crafts represented by features or artefacts found in 42 Dutch towns. Some of these crafts will be discussed in more detail and linked to specific features and artefacts. In addition to filling an information gap, this overview also offers recommendations for further research. This scientific report is intended for archaeologists, other heritage professionals, and enthusiasts with an active interest in archaeology.
This report is also available in Dutch: NAR 66: Ambachtelijke productie in steden.