Archaeology@Waterloo

In Area 2 it is also possible to see the clear difference between the land within the bottom of the valley (the flood plain) as described in Area 1. The valley also has a linear black and white stripe across it. This is a result of the magnetometer recording the location of a linear magnetic object buried in the ground such as an iron water pipe or a series of ceramic drains. The black and white stripes can be seen as similar to a series of bar magnets on the end of each other. An area near to the great barn shows a large magnetic disturbance similar to that in area 1 where something has either been burnt or there is a collection of metal debris. Smaller magnetic areas are also evidence within the survey results. What these relate to is difficult to say without further archaeological investigation. One linear feature relates to the earthen ditch emerging from the brick culvert and another relates to the location of a former boundary.

 

In Area 3 one can see two black rectangular shapes next to two other uneven shaped features. These are remarkably similar to the feature in Area 1 that was tested with the augur, which suggests that it might have a simliar origin in time and function. If so one would expect to find a similar fill of fired clay and coal fragments.

 

In the extreme western corner of Area 3 in another area of intense magnetic disturbance similar to that highlighted in Area 1. It is possible that this is part of that same feature or is a similar one lying along side it. This general area around the Chateau or farm therefore has the appearance of some form of semi industrial activity taking place within it.

 

One of the most obvious feature in this area is the linear anomaly which runs in a North-South direction in the eastern-most end of the garden. This feature is either a boundary or more likely a path or track. What is surprising is that it does not appear to respect the walls of the garden but continues both to the south, where it appears once again in Area 4 and continues across the fields, but it also appears to cut the Hollow or Covered Way to its north (this feature is evident on earlier boundary maps). If this is a track or path then it must be earlier than both the garden walls and also the Hollow Way and therefore represents an early feature within the landscape. Another linear feature runs in an East-West direction, almost in the middle of the grided area, and this relates to the sharply sloping ground, lynchet or step within the walled garden. These lynchets are often formed when boundaries are placed on a slope and the land on either side is cultivated and then it moves and then levels out, thereby forming a step, rather than a smooth slope.

 

One of the strangest features in Area 3 is the row of four magnetic anomalies next to the blue rectangle in the eastern end of the grid These are denoted by a white area with a black spot in the centre. It would appear that these are pits full of magnetic material, similar to the larger black retangular pits discussed above. the orientation of this alignment suggests that it might relate to the Chateau phase of Hougoumont, rather than the later Farm period. What they represent is dificult to confirm without excavation. They might relate to four trees that were removed and their root bowls filled with brick debris, as with the other pits.

 

There are several other faint linear anomalies which appear to relate to the former garden layout, which could be paths or theedges of beds and plots.

 

In Area 4 there are two distinct lienear features. One is the one discussed which also appears in Area 3 and another appears to relate to a track that runs in an approximate Southwest-northeast direction, parallel to the nearby wall. The spacing of the edges, possibly ditches of this track suggest that it was relatively broad, possibly even representing some form of avenue within the trees of this former wooded area.