Methods used at Waterloo dig could shed light on Culloden battlefield – experts

Volunteers and experts from astir the satellite person joined archaeologists hoping to marque caller discoveries during a week-long excavation astatine Culloden battlefield.

The excavation astatine the world-famous tract adjacent Inverness, which witnessed the last conflict of the Jacobite rising successful 1746, is combining accepted archaeological methods with techniques developed during caller excavations astatine the battlefield of Waterloo.

Experts are hoping that by uncovering caller artefacts from the battlefield, the excavation volition lend to our knowing of events that took spot determination astir 280 years ago.

Derek Alexander, caput of Archaeological Services astatine the National Trust for Scotland, said: “It’s ever breathtaking to beryllium moving astatine Culloden battlefield and truthful galore of the artefacts person large stories to tell.

It's ever breathtaking to beryllium moving astatine Culloden battlefield and truthful galore of the artefacts person large stories to tell

Derek Alexander, National Trust for Scotland

“Even tiny standard pieces of fieldwork tin lend to a amended knowing of however the conflict unfolded.”

Mr Alexander, who is starring the dig, added: “We are truly looking guardant to moving with Professor Tom Pollard again, and to making usage of the techniques helium has developed and honed astatine Waterloo.”

Professor Tony Pollard, of the University of Glasgow, said helium hoped the excavation would marque a “valuable contribution” to our knowing of the battle.

“It’s been astir 20 years since I’ve worked connected the archaeology of Culloden,” helium said.

“We made immoderate spectacular discoveries with metallic detectors backmost then, and I’m delighted galore of them are connected show successful the visitant centre.

“It’s breathtaking to beryllium back, and I’m looking guardant to america applying archaeological techniques we’ve developed much precocious astatine Waterloo, where, arsenic we did astatine Culloden archetypal clip around, we person made a invaluable publication to our knowing of a conflict which successful its ain bloody mode made history.”

As good arsenic utilizing accepted archaeological methods, specified arsenic grid-based trial pits, the excavation is utilizing metallic detecting and modern techniques to uncover much artefacts that could supply further insights into the battle.

Areas of the battlefield, specified arsenic the Field of the English, volition beryllium targeted for metallic detecting, employing techniques that were utilized to maximise artefact betterment during the excavation astatine the battlefield of Waterloo.

The archetypal find of the week-long excavation was made by Lorne MacLeod, a visitant services adjunct astatine the battlefield, who discovered what is thought to beryllium a button.

Previous archaeological digs person uncovered artefacts including a footwear buckle believed to person belonged to Donald Cameron of Lochiel, grapeshot and musket balls.

Ellen Fogel Walker, estates & conservation manager astatine Culloden Battlefield, said: “Working with our archaeological squad implicit the past 4 years has uncovered extended cognition of the battlefield and its relation arsenic a surviving landscape.

“Not lone person we recovered worldly from the clip of the battle, but prehistoric and modern material, which shows the continual beingness of radical present some earlier and aft 1746.”

The National Trust for Scotland was keen to accent that the excavation volition beryllium conducted with large care, respecting the site’s solemn history.

Culloden Battlefield is simply a designated warfare grave, and the Trust said it ensures each activities astatine the tract are designed with thoughtful attraction and respect.

The excavation, which began connected Monday October 14 and runs until Friday October 18, is portion of a programme of yearly excavations carried retired by the National Trust for Scotland to amended its knowing of the battlefield landscape.

It is being supported by volunteers from RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks, arsenic good arsenic archaeology students from arsenic acold afield arsenic North America and different parts of Europe.

Members of the nationalist besides person the accidental to instrumentality portion successful the excavation astatine a Culloden Archaeology Open Day connected Friday October 18.