Excavation 2022



On the 2nd July 2022, we returned to Waterloo with a brand new cohort of international veterans to continue excavating the Waterloo battlefield for the first time since 2019! Find out more about our 2022 summer excavation and follow along with our daily Dig Diary recaps below.

Dig Diaries: 2022



Follow along with our Dig Diaries, published every day, to keep up to date with all our discoveries, get to know our veteran beneficiaries, and watch daily summary videos of our excavations.

Were the bones of the Waterloo dead used to refine sugar?

Were the bones of the Waterloo dead used to refine sugar?

PLEASE BE AWARE: This article contains discussion of skeletal human remains that some may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
UPDATE: Excavation of the Skeleton Discovered at Mont-Saint-Jean

UPDATE: Excavation of the Skeleton Discovered at Mont-Saint-Jean

PLEASE BE AWARE: This article contains images of skeletal human remains that some may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
Day Ten: Saying Goodbye

Day Ten: Saying Goodbye

On Day Ten, we're backfilling, packing up, and saying our goodbyes as an incredible two weeks of excavation comes to an end!
Day Nine: Regiments at Waterloo

Day Nine: Regiments at Waterloo

On Day Nine, our daily video explores our veterans' regiments and their role in the Battle of Waterloo.
Day Eight: Plancenoit and Beyond

Day Eight: Plancenoit and Beyond

For Day Eight, our daily video explores our newest excavation site: Plancenoit, where Prussian and French troops classed in a bloody battle. Find out more
The Mont-Saint-Jean skull being excavated

The Face of War: Warriors of Waterloo Brought to Light by Military Veterans

PLEASE BE AWARE: This article contains images of skeletal human remains that some may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
Day Seven: Breaking News, Not Just Ground

Day Seven: Breaking News, Not Just Ground

On Day Seven, we announced to the world our most important discovered to date.
Day Six: Welcoming our Supporters

Day Six: Welcoming our Supporters

On Day Six, we welcomed some of our biggest supporters to Mont-Saint-Jean!
Weekend in Waterloo

Weekend in Waterloo

At the weekend, our veterans, archaeologists, students and volunteers get a much needed break. Find out what they got up to below!
Day Five: Unearthed Discoveries

Day Five: Unearthed Discoveries

For Day Five, we're checking out some of our best finds from week one of the dig in our daily video, and welcoming some special
Day Four: A Day with Liam and Ash

Day Four: A Day with Liam and Ash

For Day Four, we're tagging along with veterans Liam & Ash to find out what a typical day with Waterloo Uncovered holds in our daily
Day Three: Site Spotlight on Mont-Saint-Jean

Day Three: Site Spotlight on Mont-Saint-Jean

It's Day Three, and the finds are coming thick and fast - we've unearthed our first musket balls of the season! Check out our latest
Day Two: Meet the Welfare Team

Day Two: Meet the Welfare Team

As we progress to Day Two of our 2022 excavation, check out our latest video recap and dig diary! Read on to learn more about
Day One: Breaking Ground

Day One: Breaking Ground

WE'RE BACK! After two years of being unable to travel to Belgium due to the pandemic, we have finally been able to return to Waterloo
Modern Day Veterans Return to Waterloo

Modern Day Veterans Return to Waterloo

In July, the veteran support charity Waterloo Uncovered will return to the Waterloo battlefield in Belgium to conduct their first archaeological excavation since 2019.
Waterloo Battlefield Virtual Tour with Phil Harding

Waterloo Battlefield Virtual Tour with Phil Harding

Join Time Team's Phil Harding for a free virtual tour of the Waterloo battlefield and live Q &A!

#WU22: Overview



What?
Waterloo Uncovered is the groundbreaking charity combining archaeology with veteran care and recovery. We run five programmes focussing on wellbeing support, education and archaeology for veterans and military personnel. One of these programmes, our Excavation Programme, takes veterans to the battlefield of Waterloo for two weeks of hands on education, in person support and camaraderie with fellow service personnel.

Who?
In 2022, we supported 20 beneficiaries on our Excavation Programme, including 11 British VSMP, 5 from the Netherlands, 3 from Germany and 1 from Belgium! They were an integral part of a 100-strong team that included an international group of archaeologists, welfare professionals, students, volunteers and staff.

Where?
Plancenoit

Tony PollardThis summer, we were given exclusive access to dig in the village of Plancenoit for the first time!

We explored this site looking for evidence of the bloody, back-and-forth fighting between Prussian and French troops that took place here, as the village continuously changed hands. The Prussian victory served as a major turning point in the battle, but has often been overlooked in historical accounts of the battle.


Mont-Saint-Jean

Tony PollardWe also returned to Mont-Saint-Jean, which served as the Allies main field hospital during the Battle of Waterloo. Over the course of the Bbttle, it's estimated that some 6000 men were treated at Mont-Saint-Jean, and a gruesome 500 limb amputations were carried out.

When we first began excavating at Mont-Saint-Jean in 2019, we discovered a pit of amputated limbs, alongside evidence of the brutal nearby battle including an unexploded howitzer shell, a 6lb cannon ball, and hundreds of musket balls.



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