In Wallonia (southern Belgium), research dealing with remains of early modern military camps is a relatively young discipline, only starting ten years ago, with the excavations in Bouges and Frameries. The dissemination of the... more
In Wallonia (southern Belgium), research dealing with remains of early modern military camps is a relatively young discipline, only starting ten years ago, with the excavations in Bouges and Frameries. The dissemination of the archaeological results of those two sites has alerted researchers in the region, allowing – step by step – to correctly identify remains that were formerly misunderstood or leading to the reinterpretation of results from former excavations.
New preventive research quickly and unsurprisingly produced a large number of new occurrences: the Walloon territory has always been the theatre of conflicts, battles, sieges, and an unmissable and continual corridor for the passing troops. In addition to the camps of Bouge and Frameries, respectively linked to the sieges of Namur and Mons, more witnesses of military events have been identified in Wallonia: numerous camps attached to battlefields (Fontenoy, Waterloo, and Wavre), but also bivouacs of field armies in transit (Ghislenghien). This chapter provides an initial overview of discoveries about military quarters of the troops on the Walloon territory.
New preventive research quickly and unsurprisingly produced a large number of new occurrences: the Walloon territory has always been the theatre of conflicts, battles, sieges, and an unmissable and continual corridor for the passing troops. In addition to the camps of Bouge and Frameries, respectively linked to the sieges of Namur and Mons, more witnesses of military events have been identified in Wallonia: numerous camps attached to battlefields (Fontenoy, Waterloo, and Wavre), but also bivouacs of field armies in transit (Ghislenghien). This chapter provides an initial overview of discoveries about military quarters of the troops on the Walloon territory.
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In Frameries (province of Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium), a plateau dominating the area has been used in modern times to establish military camps. This well-located place was occupied on several occasions, during the various sieges against... more
In Frameries (province of Hainaut, Wallonia, Belgium), a plateau dominating the area has been used in modern times to establish military camps. This well-located place was occupied on several occasions, during the various sieges against the city of Mons, Hainaut’s most important town. Based on the 75 excavated remains, four functional categories of structures have been defined: a fireplace with or without an adjacent pit (ashpan-pit), semi-excavated shelters, large fires, and oblong trenches. Despite the strict and precise framework to establish a camp provided by military engineering treaties (cf. Skoupá, this volume), it is evident that once on site, the installation of troops does not necessarily reflect theoretical restraints. Remains discovered at Frameries, characterised by the lack of any apparent order and wide variability of shapes, tend to underline the individual appropriation of military instructions and their adaptation to real conditions. The ‘Belle-Vue’ site illustrates in detail the diversity of structures set by soldiers during a camp setting.
In order to contextualise and interpret the discovered remains and the objects found within them, the archaeological features are confronted with theoretical engineering treatises and available military sources and maps. This research leads to several unanswered questions and grey areas, but demonstrates the necessity to carry on with meticulous excavation of these rarely breath-taking structures, as they offer a wealth of information about the soldier’s daily life on the field.
In order to contextualise and interpret the discovered remains and the objects found within them, the archaeological features are confronted with theoretical engineering treatises and available military sources and maps. This research leads to several unanswered questions and grey areas, but demonstrates the necessity to carry on with meticulous excavation of these rarely breath-taking structures, as they offer a wealth of information about the soldier’s daily life on the field.
Research Interests:
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fours à chaux
La fouille archéologique d'un campement militaire : table ronde, SOLVA, 2019 Le 27 juin 2019 Solva en collaboration avec l’université de Gand et la Direction Régional du Patrimoine en Flandre ont organisé une table ronde entre différents... more
La fouille archéologique d'un campement militaire : table ronde, SOLVA, 2019
Le 27 juin 2019 Solva en collaboration avec l’université de Gand et la Direction Régional du Patrimoine en Flandre ont organisé une table ronde entre différents spécialistes, autour du sujet des campements militaires du XVIIeme et XVIIIeme siècle.
Le 27 juin 2019 Solva en collaboration avec l’université de Gand et la Direction Régional du Patrimoine en Flandre ont organisé une table ronde entre différents spécialistes, autour du sujet des campements militaires du XVIIeme et XVIIIeme siècle.
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The “Champ de Saint-Eloi” villa did not appear in archaeological inventories until its fortuitous discovery in 2005, in the framework of the expansion of a business park across the municipalities of Merbes-le-Château and Erquelinnes.... more
The “Champ de Saint-Eloi” villa did not appear in archaeological inventories until its fortuitous discovery in 2005, in the framework of the expansion of a business park across the municipalities of Merbes-le-Château and Erquelinnes. Three campaigns of archaeological excavations carried out until 2009 revealed a large main house and several adjacent buildings. Having analysed the archaeological material and structures, authors identified four chronological phases, dating from the 1st century AD to the 260s.
The excavations and the scientific studies could have concluded that this was “yet another Roman villa in Wallonia”. However, the villa stands out due to its location on the banks of the Sambre river and to the degree of conservation of the remains (including mural paintings preserved in situ), in addition to the discovery of a “treasure” consisting of a unique collection of precious items.
Analysing the villa at Merbes-le-Château based on the study of the collected material and field data opens up original scientifical issues, such as the degree of Romanisation of the inhabitants of this rural domain in the civitas Nerviorum. This issue is addressed in the context of a region rich in Gallo-Roman remains, which has been completely reassessed in this publication. In turn, the treasure – or deposit, as archaeologists prefer to call it – raises questions with regard to the level of wealth and learning enjoyed by the occupants of the site and brings to light a hitherto unknown religious cult in our regions.
The excavations and the scientific studies could have concluded that this was “yet another Roman villa in Wallonia”. However, the villa stands out due to its location on the banks of the Sambre river and to the degree of conservation of the remains (including mural paintings preserved in situ), in addition to the discovery of a “treasure” consisting of a unique collection of precious items.
Analysing the villa at Merbes-le-Château based on the study of the collected material and field data opens up original scientifical issues, such as the degree of Romanisation of the inhabitants of this rural domain in the civitas Nerviorum. This issue is addressed in the context of a region rich in Gallo-Roman remains, which has been completely reassessed in this publication. In turn, the treasure – or deposit, as archaeologists prefer to call it – raises questions with regard to the level of wealth and learning enjoyed by the occupants of the site and brings to light a hitherto unknown religious cult in our regions.