 A skull fragment of a Neanderthal, dated at over 40,000 years old, was recovered from material dredged from the Middeldiep, some off the coast of Zeeland, and exhibited in Leiden in 2009.In March 2010 it was reported that recognition of the potential archaeological importance of the area could affect the future development of offshore wind farms.In 2019 a flint flake partially covered in birch bark tar dredged up off the coast of the Netherlands provided valuable insight into Neanderthal technology and cognitive evolution.