The Limburg connection – The Eburones

 
The Eburones (Greek: Ἐβούρωνες, Strabo), were a Belgic people who lived in the northeast of Gaul, near the river Meuse and the modern provinces of Belgian and Dutch Limburg. Eburo means Yew Tree and perhaps the suffix onna = "divine" meaning "The people of the Sacret Yew. It was tabu to damage the sacred trees and assemblies were held under them. The Eburones played a major role in Julius Caesar's account of his "Gallic Wars", as the most important tribe within the Germani group of tribes east of the Rhine. The name of the Eburones was wiped out after their failed revolt against Caesar's forces during the Gallic Wars, and whether any significant part of the population lived on in the area as Tungri, the tribal name found here later, is uncertain.

Ancient stone carvings

Carvings of yew trees and ships are found several places by the Norwegian coasts. This example is from Skjeberg. The ships carved into the stone are the same kind as used by the Rhine and Meuse appr. 500 BC.  The yew tree was the tribal tree of the Eburones.

 

Language

Limburgs is today a German dialect, spoken in the Limburg province. It is a two-toned language. Two-toned languages are rare in Germanic languages, only used in Swedish, Norwegian, and Limburgs.

Place names

Swulgen is situated in the Meuse-valley near Venlo. In Norway, you will find Svelgen in Sogn on the western coast.

Names ending in -lo, like Almelo, Venlo, Baarlo. -lo names are found in Norway, such as Oslo, Byrkjelo, Varlo.

Hasselt is a city in Limburg. Norway has got Hassel in Nordland.

Names ending in -beek, like Spaubeek, Neerbeek. -Beek (English: grove, river) are found all over Norway.


Names ending in -Holt  are very common both in Limburg and Norway.

Worm is a river that runs between Aachen and meets the Ruhr by Heinsberg. Norway has got the river Vorma by Eidsvoll.

Dremmen is a place situated near Heinsberg. Norway has got the town Drammen.
Porselen is situated near Dremmen (Limburg). Norway has got Porsgrunn in Grenland.

Ringselven is situated near Weert. Norway has got names like Ringerike. Names ending with -elven (English: River) are extremely common in Norway.
Lier is situated south of Antwerpen in Flanders. Norway has got Lier near Drammen.
Laukdal is situated near Westerlo in Flanders. Names ending with -dal are extremely common in Norway. Bergom and Asberg are also found in the same area. Names ending in -berg  are also extremely common in Norway.
Koll. Kollenberg is situated near Maastricht in Limburg. Names containing –Koll are very common in Norway.
Roa. This name is common in Norway, sometimes pronounced Roi in old-Norwegian. Limburg has got Kinrooi, Roermond.
Son is a town near Eindhoven. Norway has got Son, a river and town in the south east near Oslo.