PICTURES: New Culloden Battlefield archaeological dig starts in bid to “reveal untold stories” of pivotal Jacobite Rising clash
Archaeologists and volunteers from all over the world have joined an excavation at Culloden Battlefield in a quest to uncover secrets from one of Scotland’s most significant historical sites.
Experts armed with both traditional archaeology tools and cutting-edge technology are peeling back layers of earth to reveal untold stories of the final clash of the Jacobite Rising in 1746.
Led by the National Trust for Scotland’s head of archaeological services, Derek Alexander, in collaboration with the Trust’s team at Culloden Battlefield and Professor of conflict history and archaeology at the University of Glasgow, Tony Pollard, this project aims to facilitate further understanding of the final battle of the Jacobite Rising of 1746.
Mr Alexander said: “It's always exciting to be working at Culloden Battlefield and so many of the artefacts have great stories to tell.
“Even small-scale pieces of fieldwork can contribute to a better understanding of how the battle unfolded. We are really looking forward to working with Professor Pollard again and to making use of the techniques he has developed and honed at Waterloo.”
The Trust is being supported by volunteers from RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks, as well as archaeology students from as far away as North America and other parts of Europe.
Lorne MacLeod, Visitor Services Assistant at Culloden, discovered the first artefacts of the dig on Monday, uncovering what is believed to be a button, kicking the week off to a great start.
Previous digs have uncovered a wide range of artefacts, including a shoe buckle believed to have belonged to Donald Cameron of Lochiel; grapeshot; and musket balls, each telling a piece of the story in this historic battlefield.
Ellen Fogel Walker, estates & conservation manager at Culloden Battlefield, said: “Working with our archaeological team over the past four years has uncovered extensive knowledge of the battlefield and its role as a living landscape.
“Not only have we found material from the time of the battle, but prehistoric and modern material, which shows the continual presence of people here both before and after 1746.”
Professor Tony Pollard said: “It’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve worked on the archaeology of Culloden. We made some spectacular discoveries with metal detectors back them, and I’m delighted many of them are on display in the visitor centre.
“It’s exciting to be back, and I’m looking forward to us applying archaeological techniques we’ve developed more recently at Waterloo, where, as we did at Culloden the first time around, we have made a valuable contribution to our understanding of a battle which in its own bloody way made history.”
This excavation combines traditional archaeological methods, such as grid-based test pits, metal detecting and modern techniques to uncover more artefacts that could provide further insights into the Battle of Culloden.
Areas such as the Field of the English will be targeted for metal detecting, utilising techniques applied during the excavation at the Battlefield of Waterloo, which maximised artefact recovery.
Gary Craig, who has led the detecting team for charity Waterloo Uncovered since its inception in 2015, will join the archaeologists on the project.
NTS added that, due to Culloden Battlefield’s status as war grave, the dig will be conducted with great care, respecting the site’s solemn history.
Visitors can book a space to take part in the dig on Friday (October 18).
