Pioneer Sculpture on Hermansheuvel

This monument is a look back at a piece of human evolution, 6000 years ago on the Hermansheuvel. The statue, made of Corten steel, is environmentally friendly and refers to the iron sandstone in the soil on which we live and to the many precious historic buildings in the area that have been built from this raw material.
The name "Pioneer" refers to the first inhabitants.
Plinth
The base of the artwork refers to the worked flint (flint) objects found here. Think of arrowheads, knives, axes, scrapers, beaters, millstones and perhaps other objects that met the need.
Flint was also used to make fire. The raw material from which many tools from that time were made came from the neighboring flint mines, such as that of Orp-le-Grand near Tienen.
Tulip cup
The tulip cup, a copy of which was found on this site, tells about the typically shaped pottery. This consisted of bowls, bottles with perforated handles, baking discs, dishes, pans, ladles and storage jars.
Important historical site
The Hermansheuvel is a site where man changed the landscape for the first time and which became important for the history of Bekkevoort because of the remains of the past present in it.
6,000 years ago, people used axes to cut down trees that were used to make poles for palisades and to build houses. Coppice wood was used for the fires. The chopped places were burned down to make fields, using the ashes as fertilizer.
(information source: bekkevoort.be/kunstwerk-hermansheuvel)

Nice view from the Hermansheuvel. There is a picnic table nearby.

On the information board you can read a beautiful text by Ina Stabergh with the title 'Pionier', next to the work of the same name (see and enlarge photos). Objects from the Michelsberg culture have been found on the hill, as there was a settlement of this Neolithic culture here. About 20,000 objects from this culture were found here, mainly stone and earthenware. Earthworks are typical of the culture. Objects from other peoples and times were also found: from the Iron Age, the Romans and the early Middle Ages, among others. Behind the statue is an unmissable sloping path with views and also before you get there. There is also a picnic bench with beautiful views on all sides.