Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
1
A HISTORY OF GEOTECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
This chapter describes a history of geotechnical achievements, not exhaustive
and to some extent with a Dutch focus. The author is fully aware that similar
interesting and memorable achievements may exist in other countries.
Before two thousand years
Figure 1.1 Prehistoric water well structure; stone and bone equipment.
About 15 years ago, a prehistoric water well was found near Erkelenz, north of
Aachen, in Germany, dug about 7000 years ago by early farmers, members of the
so-called band-ceramics culture. It was the early Stone Age. The saw and the wheel
were not yet invented. Oak trees were dragged to the fertile loess plateau and with
stone axes 200 branches were cut in 3-metre length, 50 cm wide and 15 cm thick.
For the connection notches were carved by using animal bones as chisels. For the
construction of the 15 metres deep well smart engineering and a perfectly
organised cooperation were required. This structure is probably the oldest known
underground construction (Fig 1.1). It is a fine example of prehistoric geotechnical
engineering.
Figure 1.2 Dutch historic sea dike design
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