Dark earths and the built environment of a Medieval castle and outer bailey (Walhain, Belgium)

Verslype, Laurent [UCL] Young, Bailey K. [Eastern Illinois University] Hudson, Paul F. [University of Texas] Leroy, Inès [UCL] Defgnée, Ann [UCL] Meyer, Donald W.

In the village of Walhain, ca. 40 km southeast of Brussels, stand the ruins of a feudal fortress. Its outer bailey is a flat terrace developed as a result of medieval engineering. Bordering a marshy stream valley, it was found to contain buried modern and medieval horizons and structures. Excavations and a coring program revealed the extent of earth-moving and the terrace's internal stratigraphy. The earliest occupations (minimally 11-12th centuries AD) of both the castle mound and outer bailey deposited materials that became dark earths. Some were subsequently redeposited as fill for expansion of the terrace feature, and may well also have been broadcast on infield agricultural zones. Analysis of key stratigraphic contexts has allowed us to better understand the preconstruction local environment, the history of the initial construction and subsequent transformation of the outer bailey, castle mound and moats, and the differential use intensities of the raised earthen platforms.