Thursday 13 / March / 2025
Brussels: Skeletons of soldiers who died at the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium in 1815 have been unearthed by archaeologists.
Experts say the discoveries are "incredibly rare" on a Napoleonic battlefield and further excavation is under way to learn more.
Teams found remains of humans and horses in the dig, which resumed this year for the first time since 2019.
The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
Historians describe the battle as an epic turning point in European history which put an end to Napoleon's ambition to rule much of Europe.
Among the finds in the latest dig, the remains of three amputated limbs were uncovered at Mont-Saint-Jean farm, which was the site of the Duke of Wellington's main field hospital during the battle, the BBC news reported.
Tens of thousands died in the fighting, but few remains have been found. According to contemporary accounts, large numbers of bones were collected, ground down and used as fertiliser on farms.
The team will continue its excavations until 15 July 2022 and hopes to make more discoveries before then.
