Archaeology : Waterloo Uncovered - excavations in and around Hougoumont Farm

Monday, 15 June 2015

Waterloo Uncovered - excavations in and around Hougoumont Farm

Waterloo Uncovered is a ground-breaking archaeology project to explore the battlefield of Waterloo. The brainchild of two soldiers from the Coldstream Guards, a regiment that played a vital role in the battle, the project will be led by Dr Tony Pollard, who heads the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University, and will include both professional archaeologists from across Europe and wounded veterans from recent campaigns.

Aims

To transform our understanding of the Battle through archaeology. We will make all findings publicly available.
To provide a unique opportunity for veterans to participate in an important dig and support those that are injured in their recovery.

Outcomes

The project’s findings will be published in academic journals for peer review both sides of the channel and there will be open access to the data through the Waterloo Uncovered website. The reports will increase our understanding of the battle that transformed Europe.
It is hoped that the artefacts discovered will help to bring the human story of Waterloo to life, and deliver a significant educational dividend for future generations. Archaeology may provide answers to questions long posed by historians of the period.
And the team’s work to identify and mark grave sites on the field will enable us to appreciate the scale of human loss suffered by the armies who fought there, and enable visitors to show their respect for those casualties. No graves or human remains will be unduly disturbed or treated with anything other than the utmost respect. As soldiers ourselves this is of the utmost importance to us.
The veterans involved in the project , who are the living link to the soldiers who fought and died at Waterloo, will develop new vocational skills by participating on an important dig. The work will also accelerate their rehabilitation following injury.