Waterloo Uncovered

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 This small metal object, excavated on the rear slope in front of the Mont-Saint-Jean farm in 2019, is likely a pipe tamper, used for packing down tobacco in a clay Could it have been lost by an Allied or French soldier?

We had a great day of team planning in London yesterday as we looked forward to the year ahead and even more wellbeing programmes for veterans and serving military personnel. waterloouncovered.com/programmes/ #Archaeology #Waterloo #Wellbeing

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 : This button was discovered by our team during our 2023 excavation, just 200 metres from the South Gate at Hougoumont Farm. Can you help us identify which regiment this might belong to? Drop your answers in the comments below!

📣 Calling veterans and serving personnel! Applications are now open for our Wiltshire Finds Programme. 
📍 Location: The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum, Salisbury Who can apply? 
✔ Veterans and service personnel with a wellbeing need waterloouncovered.com/programmes/

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 This may be a handle from candle snuff scissors, discovered near the farm of Mont-Saint-Jean in 2024 by Dutch veteran Richard from @RecoveryontheB1

Congratulations to the graduates of Battlefields Uncovered. We were delighted to welcome Trevor Creighton from @butserfarm as our graduation guest speaker earlier this week. With thanks to @VeteransFdn whose generous grant has supported this educational wellbeing programme.

Wishing Wayne the best of luck for his London Marathon run tomorrow. Wayne is on our Battlefields Uncovered programme, learning about the archaeology and history of conflict. We will be cheering you on every step of the way!!

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 This unusual object was excavated at Hougoumont in 2016. Originally thought to be a boot spur, this is a star hook used to secure shako cords. Similar items are still used today by our reenactor community today.

🌟 Exciting day out planning our next Finds in the Community Programme! Stay tuned for more details coming your way soon, including how to register your interest. Can you recognise where we’ve been today? #FindsInTheCommunity #CommunityEngagement

🪏Finds Friday🪏 Two epaulette fragments identified by Clive, Waterloo Uncovered volunteer and Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards of 1815 re-enactor. The first - from a discarded uniform, excavated in 2017. The second - a modern reproduction found at Hougoumont in 2015.

Our Finds in the Community Programme, Richmond, recently ended with a VIP outreach session. Our veteran beneficaries presented object biographies sharing their insights into the Battle of Waterloo. A really interesting morning of engagement. Take a look here! @GreenHowards

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 The Land Pattern Musket, better known as the Brown Bess, was the standard weapon of the British infantry soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. In 2019, we excavated a broken trigger guard from a Brown Bess musket at Mont-Saint-Jean Farm.

Our most recent Finds in the Community Programme in Richmond (North Yorkshire) was delivered in partnership with @GreenHowards. Our veteran beneficiaries were able to contribute to processing several objects from the Waterloo Battlefield. Well done everyone!

🪏Finds Friday 🪏 For many of our veterans, the Waterloo Battlefield has become a pilgrimage site for those seeking peace from conflict. A pilgrim badge, excavated near the châteaux of Frischermont in 2019, serves as a reminder of the power of faith, even in times of war.

🪏Finds Friday 🪏 This incredible wrapped flint, excavated at Hougoumont in 2023, was found in a quarry pit. The lead wrapping is inscribed “1811” likely the year of manufacture. Identified as French due to its amber colour, in contrast to dark grey or black British flint.

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 We have evidence of the Dutch at Waterloo, such as this William I (1813-1840) 1 centime coin discovered near Hougoumont in 2018. Today the Anglo-Dutch alliance continues! We are grateful to our Dutch partners, who provide vital logistics to our excavations.

Our immense gratitude to His Excellency Mr Jeroen Cooreman, who kindly hosted our recent fundraising dinner. We were also treated to an incredible insight into Wellington's leadership Waterloo by Professor Michael Clarke. With our thanks to all our supporters. @BelgiuminUK

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 This small Imperial Eagle was the first object excavated by veterans at Hougoumont during the 2016 field season. Was it carried by a veteran soldier who returned to fight for the Emperor one final time? Or could it be a later replica? 🤔 What do you think?

🔎 We Need Your Help! We’ve uncovered 6,945+ objects from the battlefield. The vast majority are successfully identified by our archaeologists and veterans. However, this thin metal object has left us puzzled. 💬 Share your thoughts below — to help us solve the mystery!

It’s Finds Friday! On this day in 1815, Napoleon returned to France from exile, marking the start of the “Hundred Days” campaign. This souvenir badge of Napoleon found at Hougoumont is (as far as we know) the only figural depiction of the Emperor discovered on the battlefield.