Archaeology is alive and kicking on BBC Radio 4!

Archaeology is alive and kicking!  

During my hour long drive to work this morning, I was lucky enough to hear news items about the Hougoumont (Battle of Waterloo) excavations and Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War.

It is great news that attempts are being made to create a permanent research centre around Hougoumont.  Sitting here in a coffee shop called Hussar’s just outside Kingston upon Thames, I discover that the Hussars were of course present at the Battle of Waterloo – and indeed, Sgt Maj Edward Cotton of the 7th Hussars who fought at the time, was the first tour guide of the battle field site in the 1830s.  (Read more about him here).

These links will give you a good idea of what the site is like now.

http://www.projecthougoumont.com/gallery.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odGtrcMvz-U

Going back in time to Thucydides and another war, have a look at Neville Morley’s blog – where you will discover the continuing relevance of the Peloponnesian War.

http://thesphinxblog.com/author/nevillemorley/

Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Email quote@archaeology-insurance.co.uk

Follow on Twitter

Guess who is off to Waterloo this summer?

"Archaeologists to excavate Napoleonic farmhouse defended by Coldstream Guards in Battle of Waterloo"

Hougoumont farmhouse

The Defence Archaeology Group led by Diarmaid Walshe will be excavating with Prof Tony Pollard's Glasgow University team at the site of Hougoumont  - a key location during the Battle of Waterloo.

James Gramam

Hougoumont is a cluster of 12 buildings situated in woodland directly below the main position selected by the Iron Duke to break up the advance of the French infantry.  As the battle reached a critical moment, with 14,000 French soldiers on the brink of breaking into the compound and securing victory, Corporal James Graham, a 24-year-old guardsman, closed the large gates of the farm while under fire.  

According to Mark Evans, “Every guardsman from day one in training is told about Waterloo and Hougoumont and what that means to be a Coldstream Guard.”

Mark Evans is a former Coldstream Guards officer, who narrowly escaped death while fighting in Afghanistan, and is a member of the DAG team (as I will be, though my excavation skills are rusty!).

Read more

Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Email quote@archaeology-insurance.co.uk

Follow on Twitter