15 Jul 2022

Battle of Waterloo skeletons uncovered

From Lately, 10:25 pm on 15 July 2022

IT is a defining turning point in European history, when Napleon's Army was defeated by the Duke of Wellington,  with a bit of help from the Prussians, on a battle field in modern day Belgium.

And now archaeologists have unearthed more incredible details of what happened at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

Forensic Anthropologist Gaille MacKinnnon excavating the bones.

Forensic Anthropologist Gaille MacKinnnon excavating the bones. Photo: Chris Van Houts/Waterloo Uncovered

Joining us from Belgium on the last day of excavations is director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow Professor Tony Pollard.

As well as amputated limbs and bones of horses killed during the battle, the team of archaeologists and military veterans discovered a complete skeleton, of a man thought to be a solider in Wellington's army.

More than 20,000 men were killed during the battle but until now few remains have been found.

An articulated skeleton of a solider from the Battle of Waterloo

Archeologists digging at the site of the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium have uncover a human skeleton thought to be a British solider. Photo: Chris Van Houts/Waterloo Uncovered