This Human Skeleton Found Beneath The Battle Of Waterloo Could Rewrite History
History Hit・17 minutes read
An archaeological team from Waterloo discovered human remains at the battlefield of Waterloo, shedding light on the treatment of casualties from the historic battle. The ongoing excavation aims to uncover details about the origins, health conditions, and other aspects of the skeletons, revealing the brutal reality and cost of victory.
Insights
- Waterloo Uncovered, a team of archaeologists and volunteers, has made groundbreaking discoveries at the Waterloo battlefield, including human remains and horse skeletons, shedding light on the aftermath of the historic battle and challenging previous assumptions about burial practices.
- The excavation at Monsenjon, a field hospital during the battle, unearthed human legs with amputation marks, a human skull, and horse remains, highlighting the brutal injuries sustained during the conflict and the challenges in identifying and understanding the individuals who fought and died at Waterloo.
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Recent questions
What significant find did an archaeological team make on the battlefield of Waterloo?
Human remains, including a skeleton and horse remains.
What challenges did the Waterloo Uncovered team face in identifying the gender and age of the skeleton found?
Difficulty in determining gender and age due to injuries.
What was the treatment of the dead after the Battle of Waterloo?
Bodies were buried in pits or burned on the battlefield.
What artifacts were discovered at the reverse slope of the Waterloo battlefield?
Musket balls, howitzer fragments, and other artifacts.
What is the significance of the recent discoveries made by Waterloo Uncovered?
Shedding light on the brutal reality and cost of victory.
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Summary
00:00
Waterloo Uncovered: Rewriting History Through Archaeology
- An archaeological team from Waterloo made an extraordinary find on the battlefield of Waterloo, potentially rewriting history.
- The team, including world-class archaeologists, students, and veterans from Waterloo Uncovered, aims to unearth history rather than just read about it.
- The battlefield of Waterloo, where Napoleon suffered his final defeat in 1815, was a messy affair involving 200,000 troops from various European nations.
- Waterloo Uncovered began exploring the battlefield in 2015, making significant discoveries like intact French howitzer shells and British uniform buttons.
- In 2022, the team resumed excavations after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on sites like the farm at Monsenjon and Wellington's reverse slope.
- Monsenjon, a field hospital during the battle, revealed human legs with amputation cut marks and musket balls embedded in bones during excavations in 2019.
- Recent excavations at Monsenjon uncovered horse remains, including teeth, a jaw, rib cage, and potentially a full skeleton, posing questions about their presence near a hospital.
- A human skull was discovered at Monsenjon, marking a rare find as human remains are scarcely found at Waterloo, with only one complete skeleton previously unearthed.
- The treatment of the dead after the battle was perfunctory, with bodies buried in pits or burned on the battlefield, leading to a scarcity of grave pits found in modern times.
- Metal detecting at the reverse slope of the Waterloo battlefield revealed musket balls, howitzer fragments, and other artifacts, shedding light on the fierce fighting that occurred there.
18:17
"Battle of Waterloo: Skeleton Discovery Unveiled"
- Four horses are currently in a pit, alongside human bodies, being excavated by the Waterloo Uncovered team, aiming to uncover human remains delicately and swiftly before the excavation window closes. The team is facing challenges in identifying the gender and age of the skeleton found, with indications pointing towards a male body, potentially over 15 years old, showcasing gruesome injuries or a mix of body parts from the Battle of Waterloo.
- The discovery of a skeleton, possibly a casualty from the Battle of Waterloo, marks a significant find for Waterloo Uncovered, with only one other body previously found. The excavation process is ongoing, with plans to delve into post-excavation analysis to unveil the origins, health conditions, and other details of the skeletons, shedding light on the brutal reality and cost of victory from the historic battle.
