Derek Alexander and Professor Tony Pollard direct a devoted group of archaeologists and volunteers. Collectively, their work has resulted in powerful finds at the Culloden Battlefield – an archetypical historic place of Scotland. The collaborative team unearthed more than 100 projectiles in a grazed pasture, someone previously thought sterile of archaeological material. This thrilling discovery inspires the hope that other relics from the long-ago battle linger in the landscape.
On 16 April 1746, what today is known as the Culloden Battlefield saw the Jacobite army face a crushing defeat. This battle would prove to be a decisive turning point in British history. The Jacobite army, under the leadership of Bonnie Prince Charlie, opposed government troops under the leadership of the Duke of Cumberland. Among the defenders were approximately 150 Irish troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Stapleton, who bravely obstructed an advance by firing volleys into the approaching cavalry. The Irish soldiers who had fought to restore James’s throne now heroically assisted thousands of Jacobites to freedom. Bravely, they endured devastating losses and were forced to capitulate.
Even more remarkably, the recent archaeological investigation was undertaken using a multi-method approach involving metal detector survey, trial trench, and test pit excavation. Remarkably, the area examined did not initially appear promising for archaeological finds, yet it yielded a treasure trove of artifacts. The recovered projectile findings included lead musket balls, cannon shot, and a three-pound cannonball that was fired by Jacobite artillery.
The project leaders are thrilled about the new, unique artifacts. They think these discoveries shed new light on the heroes’ last stand on British soil and open up never-before-seen aspects of the battlefield. Derek Alexander expressed his satisfaction with the discoveries:
“We’ve only had time to make a rapid assessment of our results, but musket balls fired by Jacobite and government troops, including pistol balls fired by government dragoons, likely relate to one of the last actions in the battle.” – Professor Tony Pollard
Valerie Whistler, a representative involved in the project, shared her enthusiasm for the ongoing archaeological work at Culloden:
“We are delighted with the results, especially as the ground we investigated didn’t appear to hold out a great deal of promise. Our volunteers did a fantastic job of enhancing our understanding of the battle and the battlefield as it exists today.” – Derek Alexander
Valerie Whistler, a representative involved in the project, shared her enthusiasm for the ongoing archaeological work at Culloden:
“We were so pleased to welcome Derek, Tony and our volunteers back to Culloden for another archaeology week this year, and we’re thrilled to learn more about what they have found.” – Valerie Whistler