Medieval sewer found during work on public toilet in Zupthen

Archaeologists found a brick sewer from a convent founded in 1397 in Zutphen on Sunday, while doing excavation work for a public toilet in the city center. The structure has been “remarkably well preserved,” the Zutphen Heritage Center reported on Wednesday.

The medieval sewer is completely intact over a length of more than 7 meters. “What is special is that we also have good historical data about this sewer,” the heritage center said.

It was built in 1481. A medieval manuscript from the convent contains information about places where blockages could be expected and how to resolve them.

The sewer’s bottom is located 2.5 meters below street level. It is 43 centimeters wide and a little over a meter high.

The sewer was previously discovered during the demolition of a building on the Rijkenhage in 1954, but was misidentified as an escape route for the sisters of the convent.