Archaeologists and Veterans Uncover Battle of Waterloo Trench with Human and Animal Remains

Excavation at Mont-Saint-Jean farm reveals a pit designed to clear remains from a field hospital, offering new historical insights and veteran support.

A trench containing human and animal remains has been found at the Mont-Saint-Jean farm, the site of a field hospital during the Battle of Waterloo.
Archaeologists and veterans uncovered 15 severed limbs, skeletons of seven horses, and an ox at the dig site.
The trench includes a barrier of ammunition boxes separating human and animal remains, suggesting efforts to offer dignity to the dead.
The excavation is part of a veteran support program that helps former military personnel engage in archaeology while receiving mental health support.
Discoveries at the site offer new insights into the post-battle conditions and the severity of the fighting at Waterloo.