At Akademydei, archaeobotanist Mans Schepers explains what plant remains tell us about the time of King Redbad

Akademydei

At the annual Akademydei on Friday 11 September, Schepers will explain exactly how he goes about his work. Archaeobotanists are archaeologists who study vegetation, such as seeds and plant remains. Using these natural sources, he and his colleagues can paint a picture of how a community lived and what it looked like. “We actually have quite a general idea of how people lived in the early Middle Ages. Plants were used for all sorts of things. As food, of course, but medicinal uses were also very common. In addition, plants and trees served numerous other purposes: wood for building materials, boats or fuel; fibres for clothing; and dyes for colouring clothes. Everyone used plants.”

Material culture

Schepers can pinpoint quite precisely the period he is dealing with during his soil analysis. “During excavations, we extract a soil sample and date it using carbon dating.” In this way, a soil sample can tell many stories. “Under the microscope, we can determine quite accurately what materials are present in the soil. For example, a grape found in faeces indicates that the inhabitants had access to an export product and therefore most likely also engaged in trade.”

What did Redbad smell like?

So, as well as written sources in the archives, traces left in the soil can also tell a historical story. Could Schepers, based on his research, tell us how Redbad and the people around him used to smell? “That’s a good question! At the Akademydei, I’ll paint a picture of what it used to smell like along the Wadden Sea coast in days gone by.”

Register for the Akademydei

The Fryske Akademy cordially invites you to our annual Akademydei, our 88th Dies Natalis. On Friday, September 11, 2026, everyone is welcome to join us starting at 1:30 p.m. at BOEL (formerly Zalen Schaaf) in Leeuwarden to raise a glass, chat, and play jeu de boules!

Please use this registration form.

Program

1:30 p.m. Doors open with coffee/tea
2:00 p.m. Opening remarks (by Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, Fryske Akademy)
2:15 p.m. Lecture by Dr. Mans Schepers (environmental archaeologist, University of Groningen) on vegetation and scents during the reign of King Redbad
2:40 p.m. Presentation of the Fryske Akademy Thesis Award 2026
3:00 p.m. Short break
3:15 p.m. Induction of new Academy members
3:45 p.m. Lecture by Dr. Eveline de Smalen (Fryske Akademy and Meertens Institute) on the research project “A Nose for Heritage”
4:10 p.m. Drinks, jeu de boules, scent table

Practical Information

Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
Location: BOEL (Zalen Schaaf)
Address: Breedstraat 48, 8911 GJ Leeuwarden