Battlefields Uncovered

Description

Sharing interests and insights, no matter what people’s background, age or experience, is at the heart of Waterloo Uncovered.

The course will take place online. 

What do battlefields tell us about the past and about ourselves?

Battlefields Uncovered studies some of the most dramatic turning points in World History through the lens of Military History and Archaeology. See how groundbreaking archaeological techniques can shine a light through the fog of war. Discover the complex issues to be considered when preserving and presenting places of past armed conflict. Consider what stories should be told. And by whom? Discuss different perspectives on these questions with a diverse group of people including world-leading archaeologists and historians, museum experts and military veterans. 

Students can begin following the course content from the 18th of January 2027. There will be an online graduation in April. Our military group will start meeting online in December 2026. Students who register early are welcome to join these sessions.

Between January and April, an engaging mix of theory, research and focus on practical techniques will be released in the form of lectures and workshops. You can mostly follow them when it suits you best. You will also take part in online discussions and assessed seminars in small groups. 

If you are interested in past conflict; wanting an introduction to practical archaeology; intrigued by narratives and representations of conflict; excited by the idea of learning alongside people from a military background or come from such a background yourself and want to develop new skills - then this is the course for you!

Teaching is in English, and you’ll be placed in an online group for the interactive seminars and discussions.

Lecturers:

An impressive list of guest lecturers include:

• Vicki Haverkate and Euan Loarridge of Waterloo Uncovered 
•  Professor Tony Pollard, Director for the Centre of Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, and lead archaeologist for Waterloo Uncovered:
• Professor Ben Schoenmaker of the Dutch Institute for Military History, and Leiden University;
• Dr Tobias van Gent, Associate Professor of History at University College Roosevelt and Member of the Dutch Parliament.
• Prof Garth Benneyworth of Sol Platje University
• Dr Helle Hochscheid of Utrecht University
• Prof Aldino Bondesan of Padua University

Lecturers

Vicki Haverkate (WU), Dr. Helle Hochscheid (University College Roosevelt).

Other members of the Waterloo Uncovered Team: for example Prof. Tony Pollard, Dr Stuart Eve

Target audience

This course is aimed primarily at:

• Undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students new to the field of conflict archaeology
• Serving and former military personnel wishing to learn about battlefield archaeology or indeed archaeology in general.

It is not necessary for participants to have taken university courses in archaeology or history before but some familiarity with and interest in the topics should be demonstrated.

All participants will be interviewed. This is not an academic selection process but provides an opportunity for both parties to ask questions and gauge suitability. It is also necessary for safeguarding purposes.

Aim of the course

Academic aims:

• Develop specific knowledge of past conflict from a range of geographical and temporal contexts;
• Develop an understanding of the interplay between historical and archaeological sources;
• Develop the ability to discuss knowledge and perspectives about the past;
• Develop an understanding of issues around the preservation of sites of conflict;
• Develop an understanding of issues around the presentation and or commemoration of conflict;
• Develop an understanding of archaeological methods and techniques;
• Participants will also experience working with others from very diverse international and social backgrounds.

Study load

This course is will take up to around 80 hours in total (including all contact time and reading) spread over four months. This is roughly 3-5 hours a week. There will be options to extend this and earn extra credits should you wish. 

Tags

• Archeology
• Battlefield
• battlefield excavation
• memory of war
• Napoleon
• Waterloo