The Limes, the landscape as palimpsest

The Limes, the landscape as palimpsest

The locations I photographed along the Limes, all of them are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage. In almost all cases the archeological value is found below the grounds surface. During the visit of such an area you pass by the small forest, the residential area or the hill that can be found there now. However when you are aware of what is going on, what the background is of that place, and the archealogical values it inherits, and the knowledge of why the Romans would settle here, then the landscape becomes legible and it enriches the experience of the current environment.

In all these places I looked for the qualities of the landscape that were relevant for the Romans. For example the situation right next to the Rhine. After exploring the area, I photograph from different points of view. Subsequently I combine these photos into one new image. An image that is the essence of that place. In this way I try to reveal the hidden layers of the landscape along the Limes.

The entire series consists of 19 images. And are exhibited in the group-exhibition Moving Stories, Valkhof Museum, Nijmegen. From February 10th until May 29th 2022.