Waterloo Uncovered

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Waterloo Uncovered

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

28/08/2026

🪏 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.

Wallonia was a key region for the production and manufacture of raw materials in the early 19th century; the first in continental Europe to undergo mass industrialisation.

26/08/2026

Last week, we returned to North Yorkshire for our Finds in the Community follow up and 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; your interpretations continue to increase our understanding of the Waterloo archaeological collection. Also, a very special thank you to the The Green Howards Museum for hosting the programme.

21/08/2026

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Did you know that musket balls aren’t always perfectly round? This musket ball, unearthed at Hougoumont in 2015, still shows signs of its production. The ‘sprue’—the trail left behind—remains visible, indicating where molten lead was poured during the casting process. The presence of the sprue suggests that this ball was not fired but was likely dropped by a soldier during the Battle of Waterloo. This find serves as a fascinating reminder of the manufacturing process and the human stories associated with the artefacts discovered at Waterloo. What are your thoughts on this discovery? Feel free to share in the comments!

19/08/2026

Expressions of interest are now open for our Battlefields Uncovered programme, which will start in November and run until April 2027.

If you are a veteran or serving military personnel with a wellbeing need, and are interested in learning about conflict and archaeology at Waterloo and beyond, then head to the link below to find out more about a great opportunity to connect with the past:

https://www.waterloouncovered.com/waterloo_programmes/battlefields-uncovered/

14/08/2026

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Our finds undergo initial conservation whilst on-site, but the vital post-excavation work happens afterwards. This object was unearthed at Hougomont in 2016. Our finds specialist identified it as a main spring clamp, used to compress the main spring of the flintlock mechanism. A replica example can be seen alongside!

12/08/2026

In July, we celebrated the conclusion of the Finds Programme at our Outreach Heritage Day. Our beneficiaries had the opportunity to showcase their remarkable work to our VIP visitors, highlighting the importance of collaborating with veterans to draw comparisons between past and present conflicts. Congratulations to our beneficiary group, and a special thank you to The Rifles Berkshire & Wiltshire Museum for hosting the programme.

31/07/2026

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

We need your help identifying this find! This mystery object was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2017! It is made of brass and appears to have broken or snapped at both ends. The front features floral scroll patterns (dotted by flower heads) and a beaded edge, while the reverse bears no design. Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

23/07/2026

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

The Battle of Waterloo only lasted 12 hours, but the objects our veterans excavate from the battlefield span almost 6,000 years of history.

This 20th-century tank badge was excavated at Hougoumont in 2018. Similar examples were worn by French armoured units, known as Chars de Combat, from roughly 1939-1940 through the post-1945 era. The badge has historically been associated with then-Colonel (later General and President of France) Charles de Gaulle, who wore the insignia when he commanded the 507e Régiment de Chars de Combat (507th Tank Regiment).

17/07/2026

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏

Many of our archaeological discoveries reflect the intensity of the firefight at Waterloo. This frizzen was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2017. It is likely the frizzen of a French Charleville musket. Its discovery 200 metres from the south gate at Hougoumont suggests this piece of musket furniture was lost in the French assault on the chateau, likely in the early stages of the battle.

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http://www.waterloouncovered.com/

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