🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 This 1839 shilling (depicting a newly crowned Queen Victoria) was unearthed at Hougoumont in 2018. It reflects the growing tourist trade that emerged on the battlefield in the years following the Battle of Waterloo.

We had a hugely insightful day at the recent AMOT conference, hearing from a range of interesting speakers and engaging with the network of army museums. And we left with a number of ideas on how to enable more engagement with the archaeology from the Battle of Waterloo.

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 Did you know a tram ran through the Waterloo battlefield? In 2024, our team uncovered this rusted, cast-iron bar. It got us thinking about the tracks that crossed this landscape. At Waterloo, trams coming from Brussels travelled through Mont-Saint-Jean.

We were delighted to attend the Royal Hospital Chelsea Veterans Outreach session last week. If you are a veteran or serving military, with a wellbeing need, take a look at our programmes 👇 waterloouncovered.com/progra…

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 We need your help identifying this object! This tiny metal object was discovered at Hougoumont Farm in 2018. It is made of copper and has a serrated edge on one side. It appears to have two loop holes, one with a metal fragment still attached. Any ideas?

Last week, our CEO, Abbie, joined the Forest Forces Armed Forces breakfast club. Our Finds in the Community programme returns to the Midlands in early 2027. If you are a veteran, with a wellbeing need, express your interest via the link below: waterloouncovered.com/

🪏Finds Friday 🪏 Two musket balls. One shot. A deliberate choice, or mistake under pressure? This unusual find appears to be an example of double-loaded shot: two balls loaded into the same musket before firing. Found in 2019, on the reverse slope near Mont-Saint-Jean Farm.

Last week, we were at Hougoumont Farm with members of the Coldstream Guards. A great opportunity to talk about the incredible battlefield finds, including Coldstream buttons, as well as the positive impact of archaeology in improving wellbeing for our Armed Forces community.

🪏 Finds Friday 🪏 During our metal detector surveys, our team of archaeologists and veterans frequently uncover metal fittings and buckles from objects that have since deteriorated. This buckle is an exception, as it still retains traces of the leather to which it was attached.

What an experience for some of our community to see the Bayeux Tapestry recently at the British Museum. The tapestry, which tells the story of the Battle of Hastings, demonstrates how shared heritage can help us understand the past and forge strong relationships for the future.