EXPERTS attempting to unlock the secrets of the past often rely on the latest technology.

But those investigating an ancient structure which lies buried beneath the Hampshire countryside have used a pony-powered device to carry out a hi-tech survey.

They were probing a diamond-shaped feature found near East Boldre in the New Forest.

It was originally spotted using Lidar, an airborne laser-scanning technique, and is thought to be the remains of a medieval royal hunting lodge.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) and Bournemouth University decided to carry out a more detailed investigation using a pony called Jerry.

He found himself involved in the world of magnetometry, which pinpoints sites of past human activity by detecting tiny changes in Earth’s magnetic field.

An NPA spokesman said: “In-depth surveys of this type are usually carried out by a magnetometry cart pulled by a vehicle.

“However, due to the sensitivity of the site, archaeologists took the unprecedented step of using a pony to pull the hi-tech equipment.

“The results from this low-impact approach to surveying will now be analysed to see what has been uncovered.”

It is said to be the first time in the UK that archaeologists have used a pony to carry out such an investigation.

Lawrence Shaw, the NPA’s archaeological officer, added: “This innovative approach to surveying is meant to overcome some of the issues we have to juggle when surveying archaeology in the fragile habitats of the national park.”

The pony was provided by the New Forest Driving Society.

Mr Shaw added: “By utilising traditional Forest skills such as pony driving, and the latest technology and research from the university, we can look to improve our knowledge and understanding of the Forest’s rich heritage without impacting on the land itself.”

Dr Derek Pitman of Bournemouth University said: “We were excited to be able to combine 21st century technology with traditional techniques.

“Good heritage knowledge is central to developing conservation and management strategies and the ability to combine pony-power and cutting-edge geophysical surveying allowed us to better understand the New Forest’s rich cultural history.”

The NPA and the university are investigating various “lumps and bumps” in the countryside through the LocATE (Local Archaeological Training and Equipment) project.

Bournemouth University is supplying geophysical equipment to local interest groups to help them undertake detailed surveys of buried archaeological sites.

Within the Forest the scheme has helped map Neolithic long barrows, Iron Age hill forts and the remains of Roman pottery kilns.