Waterloo Uncovered

The groundbreaking charity that combines world-class archaeology with veteran care and recovery.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

We are delighted to have our work featured in the most recent video in the Epic History series, following the 100 Days Campaign up to its dramatic climax: the Battle of Waterloo. Thank you to the team at Epic History for highlighting our work!

https://t.co/lt78ibXjdZ

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Calling our Dutch and Flemish friends, we need your help! We suspect this is a clog fastener, unearthed at Hougoumont in 2018. What do you think?

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

This 1839 shilling (depicting a newly crowned Queen Victoria) was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2018. It reflects the growing tourist trade that emerged on the battlefield in the years following the Battle of Waterloo.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

We had a hugely insightful day at the recent AMOT conference, hearing from a range of interesting speakers and engaging with the network of army museums. And we left with a number of ideas on how to enable more engagement with the archaeology from the Battle of Waterloo.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Did you know a tram ran through the Waterloo battlefield?

In 2024, our team uncovered this rusted, cast-iron bar. It got us thinking about the tracks that crossed this landscape. At Waterloo, trams coming from Brussels travelled through Mont-Saint-Jean.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

We were delighted to attend the Royal Hospital Chelsea Veterans Outreach session last week. If you are a veteran or serving military, with a wellbeing need, take a look at our programmes 👇

https://t.co/mYl0ra77aQ

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

We need your help identifying this object! This tiny metal object was discovered at Hougoumont Farm in 2018. It is made of copper and has a serrated edge on one side. It appears to have two loop holes, one with a metal fragment still attached.

Any ideas?

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

Last week, our CEO, Abbie, joined the Forest Forces Armed Forces breakfast club. Our Finds in the Community programme returns to the Midlands in early 2027. If you are a veteran, with a wellbeing need, express your interest via the link below:

https://t.co/GITMZByuhN

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏Finds Friday 🪏

Two musket balls. One shot. A deliberate choice, or mistake under pressure?

This unusual find appears to be an example of double-loaded shot: two balls loaded into the same musket before firing.

Found in 2019, on the reverse slope near Mont-Saint-Jean Farm.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

Last week, we were at Hougoumont Farm with members of the Coldstream Guards. A great opportunity to talk about the incredible battlefield finds, including Coldstream buttons, as well as the positive impact of archaeology in improving wellbeing for our Armed Forces community.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

During our metal detector surveys, our team of archaeologists and veterans frequently uncover metal fittings and buckles from objects that have since deteriorated. This buckle is an exception, as it still retains traces of the leather to which it was attached.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

What an experience for some of our community to see the Bayeux Tapestry recently at the British Museum. The tapestry, which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings, demonstrates how shared heritage can help us understand the past and forge strong relationships for the future.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Remnants of Napoleon’s Grande Batterie? This French cannonball was discovered in 2019, near the farm of Mont-Saint-Jean. It is likely an overshoot from the massed barrage of French heavy guns directed towards the centre of Wellington’s Anglo-allied army.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

Last week we were at the “Fields of Conflict" archaeology conference, presenting some insights into our key finds and the positive impact of community engagement in heritage for veterans and serving military personnel. An interesting opportunity to learn and share best practice.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Could this be the tip of a bayonet? This iron object was unearthed at Mont-Saint-Jean in 2024. Its long triangular cross-section shape resembles the bayonet of a brown bess, the standard musket used by the British army at Waterloo. What do you think?

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Did you know that the Waterloo battlefield was a site of commercial agriculture before and after the battle? This cloth seal was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2015. Cloth seals were attached to textiles and other goods to identify and control their quality.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

Last week, we returned to North Yorkshire for our Finds in the Community focus group session. The session was informative and interesting, and our beneficiaries' insights will help shape our programmes in the future. Congratulations to all those who completed the programme.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Did you know that musket balls aren’t always perfectly round? This particular musket ball, unearthed at Hougoumont in 2015, still shows signs of its production. The 'sprue' remains visible, indicating where molten lead was poured during the casting process.

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

Expressions of interest are now open for our Battlefields Uncovered programme.

If you are a veteran or serving military personnel with a wellbeing need, then head to the link below to find out more about a great opportunity to connect with the past:

https://t.co/qKz7uopd0K

[Waterloo Uncovered @DigWaterloo]

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Finds undergo conservation whilst on-site, but the vital post-excavation work happens afterwards. This object was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2016. Our finds specialist identified it as a main spring clamp, used to compress the main spring of the lock mechanism