Archaeologists uncover lost church beneath Mechelen cathedral
Several remarkable archaeological discoveries have been made during renovation works at St Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen. The findings were reported by the Province of Antwerp, which is overseeing the project in collaboration with the city and the church council. Beneath the floor of the chapter house, archaeologists uncovered the remains of walls that may belong to a Romanesque predecessor to the current cathedral.
The present phase of works focuses on redesigning the cathedral’s northern section, including the chapter house, the north portal and adjoining rooms. The aim is to restore the original layout while assigning new functions to certain spaces, such as a heritage depot.
Excavations have revealed layers of rubble beneath the floor containing pottery and construction materials from the 16th and 17th centuries, pointing to major alterations during that period. Below these layers, older structures have come to light, including what is believed to be an outer wall dating from the 13th or 14th century. At a deeper level still, archaeologists uncovered a wall with a different orientation, which may form part of an earlier Romanesque church.
"What we are uncovering today was hidden beneath our feet for centuries," said Deputy Luk Lemmens (N-VA). "That reminds us that heritage is never finished. Every intervention, no matter how careful, can reveal new layers. It is our responsibility to handle this respectfully and to incorporate that knowledge into how we continue to restore and pass on this building."
The cathedral’s restoration is a large-scale project, with a total cost of more than 36 million euros. Alongside conservation work, the project aims to reorganise key spaces and improve accessibility throughout the building.
#FlandersNewsService | St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen © PHOTO ARTERRA
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