Looking at the bucolic countryside in Waterloo, Belgium, it is hard to believe that a bloody battle was waged here on June 18, 1815. Local farmers, who plow the fields, still find signs today — musket balls, old coins, and bits of metal from Napoleon’s one-day rampage against the troops of the Duke of Wellington. For two weeks each year, history comes to life as veterans and archaeologists also discover the connection between the past and present during “Waterloo Uncovered,” a charity program that mixes archaeology with healing.
The Founding of Waterloo Uncovered
Waterloo Uncovered was created in 2015 by British Coldstream Guardsman and archaeology graduates Mark Evans and Charlie Foinette after Mark was discharged from the army. He struggled with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They believed bringing veterans to a historic battle site could provide healing opportunities. And it worked.
Veterans and volunteers traveled to Belgium each summer for the Waterloo Uncovered archaeological dig until COVID stopped the program cold in 2020 and 2021. The charity returned to the Waterloo battlefield in July 2022 to conduct its first archaeological excavation since 2019. And the finds have been impressive.
The Discoveries
Over the past two weeks. some fascinating finds – including an incredibly rare skeleton – have been unearthed by a team of world-class archaeologists, students, and veterans. These discoveries enlighten us about the horrors soldiers of 1815 had to endure. Nearly 50,000 people were killed or wounded during the day-long siege that ended the Napoleonic era of European history. Three-quarters of the 45,000 horses in the Battle of Waterloo were killed. This kind of carnage is not foreign to some of the participating veterans who have seen the ravages of war firsthand.
A Unique program
What makes the Waterloo Uncovered project so unique? Veterans and serving military personnel (VSMP), who have experienced physical or mental injuries due to their service, form an integral part of the team. The charity uses archaeology as a tool to help service personnel find peace from the traumas of war. In turn, VSMP offers a useful military perspective on the discoveries the charity unearths.
Twenty VSMP members joined the project this year. There were 11 from the UK, five from the Netherlands, three from Germany, and one from Belgium.
Finds Bring Harsh Reality of Waterloo to Life
Parts of at least three horses, one of which looks nearly complete, have been unearthed at Mont-Saint-Jean. In addition, human bones have been discovered, including the skull and arm of one individual. And a set of human teeth were found. These are incredibly rare discoveries on a Napoleonic battlefield.
“I’ve been a battlefield archaeologist for 20 years and have never seen anything like it. We won’t get any closer to the harsh reality of Waterloo than this,” says Professor Tony Pollard, one of the project’s Archaeological Directors and Director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at Glasgow University.
Visitors to Waterloo would never know the site’s history unless they visit the Panorama Museum, the Battle of Waterloo Museum, or the Lion’s Mound. They can learn more about the battle and discover spectacular views of the battleground and surrounding Wallonia countryside. It is a must-do for your itinerary if you are a history buff.
My Experience with Waterloo Uncovered
I have been incredibly blessed. There are so many advantages to living in Belgium! Where else would I be able to participate in an activity like this? Or hold a medieval coin in my hands? This is my third year offering photography services to this amazing charity. This week, I have been photographing archaeology finds. There is something magical about holding bits of history dating back more than 200 years in your hands. I’ve lost count of the number of musket balls that have passed in front of my lens. Every piece seems to bring a story with it. The most intriguing finds have been the ancient coins.
Veterans and students painstakingly clean pieces of metal, old coins, and various sundry discoveries with soft brushes, harder bristle brushes, and wooden implements. “It’s very cathartic,” says Shaun Maloney, a former military policeman. After cleaning, items are bagged and sent over for photography before being logged by Waterloo Uncovered staff.
Liam Cocks, a British veteran, says the experience with Waterloo Uncovered has been “life-changing,” a sentiment echoed by other veterans participating in the program. They feel a connection to the military finds and form friendships with people who have undergone similar experiences to theirs.
In the fields, people work together, further building camaraderie. Scorching temperatures haven’t dampened the participant’s spirits or enthusiasm about their finds. Watching the veterans heal is an unforgettable experience.
I can’t wait to see what the future will bring as archaeologists discover the past.
Would you like to donate to this charity that is literally changing people’s lives? Click here.
(Featured photo at the top of the page: Tom, a British veteran, excavates at Plancenoit under the watchful eyes of a few furry, four-legged friends: a few horses and donkeys. ⓒ`Chris Van Houts)
Very interesting and educational for me.