Archaeology@Waterloo
Fluxgate Gradiometer (Magnetic) Survey - North Gate, Hougoumont Farm
The survey was undertaken in March 2014 by Helen Goodchild of the University of York. It shows a series of highly magnetic spots in lines with other smaller features in irregular patterns. The large black and white feature appears to be related to a well defined area that has been intensively burnt. The meterial from this burning is also evident in the other small features nearby. The spots appear to be a series of pits which might be the locations of former trees, the root bowls of which have collected the burnt material, either naturally, by being washed in over time, or by human intervention. The intense burning could be as a result of some form of industrial activity, such as brick making, or a lime kiln, or it might mark the location of intense burning of other material, including the bodies of the dead from the battle around Hougoumont in 1815.
Earth Resistance or Resitivity Survey - North Gate, Hougoumont Farm
The survey was undertaken in March 2014 by Helen Goodchild of the University of York assisted by Dave Halstead and Tim Sutherland. This survey was undertaken over exactly the same area as that of the mangetic survey (above). It shows a collection of amost circular features of approximately similar sizes, one of which is well defined with a grey centre with a paler surround. The others have a lighter centre and darker surrounds. There is very little correlation between the two different surveys other than where a structure might exist on both - the black angle on the magnetic survey and the black and dark grey angle on the earth resistance survey.
Fluxgate Gradiometer (Magnetic) Survey - Walled Garden, Hougoumont Farm
This sample survey was undertaken in March 2014 by Helen Goodchild of the University of York assisted by Dave Halstead. This survey was undertaken over exactly the same area as that of the Earth resistance survey (below). It shows a collection of black and white spots which relate to fragments of ferrous metal in the ground. These may be either pieces of rubbish located within the garden soil or battle-related artefacts, such as pieces of ordnance used during the seige of Hougoumont. The more vague grey features relate to disturbances within the soil and might date to any period from the farm, or chateau's history.
Earth Resistance or Resitivity Survey - Walled Garden, Hougoumont Farm
This sample survey was undertaken in March 2014 by Helen Goodchild of the University of York assisted by Dave Halstead. Part of this survey was undertaken over the same area as that of the Magnetic survey (above). It shows a variable collection of indistiguishable features which are difficult to interpret in such a small survey. It does show, however, that there is sufficient vaiability in the survey reading to make a larger survey worthwhile.
Digital Terrian Model - Walled Garden, Hougoumont Farm
This Digital Terrain survey was undertaken in March 2014 by Dave Halstead. It shows the micro topography of the Walled Garden at Hougoumont. This survey clearly shows that the often minute earthworks, which are a direct result of the differing garden features once associated with the former Cahteau or the later farm, are still recognisable. This illustration shows the garden sub-divisions and even some of the individual flower and vegetable beds that once existed with the formal garden.
The first field surveys were undertaken in March 2014 at Hougoumont Farm as a way of assessing which survey methods would be the most useful on the specific terrain and soil types of the Waterloo battlefield