Basementen, gevonden bij opgravingen op de binnenplaats van het seminarie te Rolduc 1890

This photograph captures two column bases discovered during excavations at Rolduc Seminary. Although the photographer is anonymous, the image speaks volumes about the early efforts of heritage preservation. The presence of these Romanesque column bases tells us about the rich historical layers of the Rolduc site. The architectural style suggests a desire to connect the seminary with the grandeur and authority of the past. The very act of photographing and documenting these fragments reveals a growing awareness of the importance of historical artifacts. Monumentenzorg, the organization credited with this photograph, plays a key role in shaping our understanding of what deserves to be remembered and preserved. Their institutional gaze decides which stories are told. To truly understand this image, one must delve into the archives of Rolduc Seminary, tracing its evolution from a medieval abbey to a modern educational institution. The politics of preservation, then and now, shape our understanding of these silent witnesses to history.