The Battle of Waterloo may be best known for marking the end of Napoleon Bonaparte’s storied military career, but it was also a harrowing, blood-soaked engagement. New evidence of the misery suffered by the troops has been unearthed by archaeologists, including a whole bunch of severed limbs.
Fought on June 18, 1815, Napoleon’s French forces went up against soldiers from the Seventh Coalition, which was composed of British, Dutch, Prussian, and other nationalities (Napoleon had a knack for pissing off other nations). All told, over 200,000 soldiers were involved in the engagement. Days after the battle, Bonaparte stepped down as France’s leader and was exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena, where he died six years later. But the amputated remains of the soldiers who defeated his army remained at Waterloo.
Waterloo Uncovered, a non-profit which works to involve veterans and active military members with the archaeological process, conducted the week-long dig. During the excavation, they found a pit on the site of a field hospital set up by coalition forces. Buried inside was a pile of human limbs, and one complete human skeleton. Several of the limbs showed signs of having been severed by a surgeon’s saw. Across a barrier built out of ammo pouches, they found the body of an ox, as well as seven horses, several of which were euthanized by gunshots to the head.
Tony Pollard, a professor at the University of Glasgow, who led the dig, called the find “truly unique,” in a press release.
“The layout of the trench, with all animal remains on one side of the ammunition box barrier and all the human remains on the other, strongly suggests that the men who buried this individual attempted to offer him a level of dignity and respect despite the horrific scene they would have found themselves facing while clearing the field hospital of the dead,” he added.
The pit was likely dug as a way to clear gore out of the field hospital once the battle had ended. According to the archaeologists, historical records describe more than 500 amputations at the field hospital on the day of the battle, which were described as “piling up in all four corners of the courtyard.”
Alongside the historical value of the find, Waterloo Uncovered touted the benefits it garnered for the veterans who took part. Among them was John Dawson, a 35-year-old who was shot in the head while serving in Afghanistan. The injury cost him his left eye and use of his left arm.
“This is the first trip I’ve done without a support worker,” he said. “Normally, I’d refuse to do things like this, but when my regiment contacted me about it, I decided to give it a try, and it’s exceeded all of my expectations. The amputated limbs we’re finding don’t bother me–I’ve seen much worse during my service.”
Despite the grisly nature of the find, the find helps to paint a more complete picture of the miserable conditions endured by both the fighting men and the medical staff who valiantly sought to treat them; these are mostly anonymous people who will never get their own Ridley Scott biopic (which may not be a bad thing, given some reviews).
It’s clear that, despite being almost 200 years old, there is still work to be done at the infamous location. Waterloo Uncovered was also responsible for the 2022 discovery of a complete skeleton at the site of the battle. Despite the battle claiming some 20,000 lives, the skeleton was only the second ever excavated on the grounds.
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