300 BC
The first settlement of Groot Wetsinge dates from the 3rd century BC. Several artifacts were discovered in the wierde, including an earthenware lamp from the 1st century. Groot Wetsinge is a rather confusing name, since there are fewer houses there than in Klein Wetsinge. Groot means ‘high’ in this context, because Wetsinge is built on a wierde; a wierde is a mound, or artificial hill that was created to provide safe ground before there were dikes to protect the land from flooding. The wierde in Wetsinge is part of a cluster of wierden situated on the eastern banks of the Hunze river. Another good example of a wierde is the Schellingheheert, just up the road near Winsum.