More human and animal bones have been discovered at the site of the Mont-Saint-Jean farmstead in Waterloo (Walloon Brabant). The farm played an important role in the Battle of Waterloo, when a coalition of forces led by the Duke of Wellington defeated the troops of the Emperor Napoleon. A British organisation Waterloo Uncovered, which has been conducting excavations at the site since early September, has just announced the find.
In 1815 the Mont-Saint-Jean farm served as a field hospital for Allied troops led by the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo. Already in 2022, excavations at the farm found a human skeleton.
It was a remarkable find, as it was only the second complete human skeleton ever unearthed on the Waterloo battlefield. At that time archaeologists also found amputated limbs of wounded men and the skeletons of three horses.
Fresh discoveries
Excavations are now again being carried out at the site. As in 2022, the work is being done by staff and volunteers from Waterloo Uncovered, a charity dedicated to the reintegration of veterans and ex-combatants through archaeological work.
The excavations are providing a better picture of the site. Next to the field hospital, a trench was uncovered that was used as a cemetery. As in 2022, on one side of the trench human bones were found. On the other side, animal remains (bones of 4 horses and 1 ox) were discovered.
The team of archaeologists, veterans and volunteers has now uncovered the remains of 1 ox and 7 horses, several of which were slaughtered at the time and at least 3 were killed with a bullet through the head.
The human and animal remains found in the trench were separated by a barrier of ammunition boxes.