Tony Pollard (Glasgow), Professor of Conflict History and Archaeology, University of Glasgow: "1815 and Beyond: The History and Archaeology of the Battlefield at Waterloo".


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Description
Since 2015, Waterloo Uncovered has engaged military veterans and still serving personnel in the archaeological investigation of the battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium, where in 1815 Napoleon was defeated for the last time. An important aim of the project is to enhance the well-being of its participants, many of whom live with the physical or psychological impact of their service.  Central to all of this is the valuable contribution the project has made to our understanding of the battle and its aftermath, adding to what we already knew and, in some cases, providing entirely fresh insight. This presentation will introduce the project, which will enter the field again this year, and present highlights of what it has achieved. Areas to be considered include the nature of the fighting, particularly at Hougoumont, which was a defended farm on Wellington’s right, and the disposal of the dead, with the excavation of a unique battlefield burial complex on-going at Mont St Jean, the farm behind Wellington’s centre which served as his main field hospital. The discussion will consider both the results of archaeological survey and excavation and insights provided by historical accounts, including a recently discovered description of the battlefield by the first civilian visitor, a merchant from Glasgow, to write about what they encountered following the carnage of combat.