Sam Tanson, Minister of Culture;
Credit: MCULT
On Monday 28 March 2022, Luxembourg's Minister of Culture, Sam Tanson, and the Mayor of the City of Echternach, Yves Wengler, invited the inhabitants of Echternach as well as anyone interested to attend an information meeting on the remains discovered dating back to the era of Saint Willibrord (658-739) on the site of the “Little Marquise” in the north-eastern region of the Grand Duchy.
The importance and the singularity of the discoveries as well as various solutions of enhancement were presented to the public by the independent scientific committee composed of Prof Dr Matthias Wemhoff, director of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte, State Musem, Berlin; Prof Dr Rainer Atzbach, Professor at Aarhus University and Prof Dr Lukas Clemens, Professor at the University of Trier. Their presentation was supplemented by the work of the Austrian architectural firm Novetus.
The evening was moderated by Christiane Bis of the National Institute for Archaeological Research (INRA), allowing the public to ask questions concerning the importance of the site, the different techniques and models of valuation and the financing of the project.
Minister Tanson noted that the development of such a site is important to allow future generations to understand and know their history. She said: "the conservation of the cultural heritage is an integral part of the living environment and the quality of life of every citizen, it is also a contribution to sustainable development and the promotion of cultural diversity”.
