A recent excavation at Mont-Saint-Jean farm near Waterloo has uncovered a grisly reminder of the Battle of Waterloo, one of Europe’s bloodiest conflicts. Led by the organization Waterloo Uncovered, the excavation team, composed of archaeologists and military veterans, unearthed a unique trench filled with human and animal remains. This discovery sheds new light on the aftermath of the historic battle that marked the end of Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign and the Napoleonic Wars.

The team found the skeletons of seven horses, an ox, and a partial cow, alongside 15 severed human limbs. Credit: Waterloo Uncovered

The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, claimed the lives of at least 20,000 soldiers. Mont-Saint-Jean farm, situated in present-day Belgium, served as a field hospital for the Duke of Wellington’s forces. The recent excavation focused on a trench believed to have been purposefully dug to clear the hospital of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and dying after the battle. It contained both human and animal remains, separated by a barrier made from ammunition boxes stripped from soldiers’ satchels. Archaeologists believe this layout may have been an attempt by soldiers to maintain dignity and respect for the fallen amid the horrors of war.

Tony Pollard, an archaeologist from the University of Glasgow and the academic lead for the excavation, explained: “I can’t think of any other site that has this combination of elements – it’s truly unique, within Napoleonic archaeology and beyond. 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 ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.”

Among the remains, the team found the skeletons of seven horses, an ox, and a partial cow, alongside 15 severed human limbs. Evidence suggests that three of the horses had been euthanized with musket sH๏τs to the head, and some of the animals showed signs of butchery, likely used for food.

The Battle of Waterloo, June 18th, 1815, illustrated by W Heath and JC Stadler (1819). Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Excavations conducted in 2022 had already revealed a lone human skeleton, along with the remains of horses and amputated limbs, but the 2023 dig has uncovered far more. Researchers now believe that more than 500 limbs may have been amputated at the Mont-Saint-Jean field hospital, where surgery was conducted without the benefit of anesthesia or antibiotics. The soldiers’ fates, Pollard remarked, were often left “in the lap of the gods,” with survival being uncertain.

For Clive Jones, a Welsh Guards veteran and participant in the dig, the excavation has been a deeply personal experience. Jones was stationed with the Household Cavalry during the 1982 Hyde Park Bombing, which killed 11 military personnel and seven cavalry horses. Reflecting on the discovery of the horse skeletons, Jones said, “I thought the soldier would affect me the most, but it was actually the horses. It just brought me back to the horrors of that day.”

Waterloo Uncovered is a pioneering initiative that blends archaeological research with veteran support, offering former service members a chance to heal through participation in battlefield excavations. The program provides both historical insights and mental health support, allowing veterans to work through their own traumas while unearthing the stories of the soldiers who fought centuries before.

While historical accounts often focus on military strategy and political outcomes, the site at Mont-Saint-Jean farm reveals the harsh realities of battlefield injuries and the efforts made to care for the wounded. It also offers a broader perspective on the multinational forces that fought against Napoleon, with soldiers from Britain, Prussia, the Netherlands, and various German states.

“This site gives us a real snapsH๏τ of what happened after the battle,” Pollard explained. “It includes the stripping of all uniform elements from ᴅᴇᴀᴅ soldiers, the euthanasia of wounded horses, and even the use of butchered animals for survival. It’s a stark reminder of the human and animal cost of war.”

More information: Waterloo Uncovered