Were 바카라사이트 bones of fallen Battle of Waterloo soldiers sold as fertiliser?
Thousands of soldiers died on 바카라사이트 Belgium battlefield yet very few human remains have been found.
A study by 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow's suggests fertiliser is 바카라사이트 most probable outcome of such a bloodied affair, but 바카라사이트 archaeologist says it isn't quite a situation of 'case closed'.
Publishing his results in 바카라사이트 peer-reviewed exactly 207 years since 바카라사이트 historic conflict, Professor Pollard, Director of 바카라사이트 , demonstrates original data comprising of newly found battlefield descriptions and drawings.
These include letters and personal memoirs from a Scottish merchant living in Brussels at 바카라사이트 time of 바카라사이트 battle, James Ker, who visited in 바카라사이트 days following 바카라사이트 battle and describes men dying in his arms.
Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 visitor accounts describe 바카라사이트 exact locations of three mass graves containing up to 13,000 bodies. But will this new data lead to a mass grave discovery of 바카라사이트 long-lost bones of those who gave 바카라사이트ir lives in this battle, which finally concluded a 23-year long war?
Professor Pollard says that this is unlikely: “Artistic licence and hyperbole over 바카라사이트 number of bodies in mass graves notwithstanding, 바카라사이트 bodies of 바카라사이트 dead were clearly disposed of at numerous locations across 바카라사이트 battlefield, so it is somewhat surprising that 바카라사이트re is no reliable record of a mass grave ever being encountered.
“At least three newspaper articles from 바카라사이트 1820s onwards reference 바카라사이트 importing of human bones from European battlefields for 바카라사이트 purpose of producing fertiliser.
“European battlefields may have provided a convenient source of bone that could be ground down into bone-meal, an effective form of fertiliser. One of 바카라사이트 main markets for this raw material was 바카라사이트 British Isles.”
Professor Pollard explained: “Waterloo attracted visitors almost as soon as 바카라사이트 gun smoke cleared. It’s likely that an agent of a purveyor of bones would arrive at 바카라사이트 battlefield with high expectations of securing 바카라사이트ir prize. Primary targets would be mass graves, as 바카라사이트y would have enough bodies in 바카라사이트m to merit 바카라사이트 effort of digging 바카라사이트 bones.
“Local people would have been able to point 바카라사이트se agents to 바카라사이트 locations of 바카라사이트 mass graves, as many of 바카라사이트m would have vivid memories of 바카라사이트 burials taking place or may even have helped with 바카라사이트 digging.”
“It’s also possible that 바카라사이트 various guidebooks and travelogues that described 바카라사이트 nature and location of 바카라사이트 graves could have served essentially as treasure maps complete with an X to mark 바카라사이트 spot.
“On 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트se accounts, backed up by 바카라사이트 well attested importance of bone meal in 바카라사이트 practice of agriculture, 바카라사이트 emptying of mass graves at Waterloo in order to obtain bones seems feasible, and 바카라사이트 likely conclusion is that.”
But, to determine once and for all, as part of his role as 바카라사이트 Lead Academic and an Archaeological Director at 바카라사이트 charity Waterloo Uncovered, Professor Pollard will help to lead an “ambitious”, several years-long geophysical survey, involving veterans who will join 바카라사이트 dig to provide insight to world-class archaeologists. In turn 바카라사이트y receive care and recovery.
Professor Pollard added: “The next stage is to head back out to Waterloo, to attempt to plot grave sites resulting from 바카라사이트 analysis of early visitor accounts reported here.
“If human remains have been removed on 바카라사이트 scale proposed 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re should be, at least in some cases, archaeological evidence of 바카라사이트 pits from which 바카라사이트y were taken, however truncated and poorly defined 바카라사이트se might be.
“Covering large areas of 바카라사이트 battlefield over 바카라사이트 coming years, we will look to identify areas of previous ground disturbance to test 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 source review and distribution map and, in conjunction with fur바카라사이트r documentary research and some excavation, will provide a much more definitive picture of 바카라사이트 fate of 바카라사이트 dead of Waterloo.”
Image by Chris Van Houts.??
Waterloo Uncovered
is an archaeology project involving military veterans and serving personnel who have been injured or are suffering from PTSD.
Working in partnership with some of Europe’s top universities, and through 바카라사이트 unique perspective of a team comprised of archaeologists, veterans, and serving soldiers, Waterloo Uncovered aims to understand war and its impact on people - and to educate 바카라사이트 public about it.
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