Charlestown, Massachusetts – After 251 years, an artifact has been unearthed at the Bunker Hill Monument, right before the nation’s 250th anniversary.
This excavation is among the first archaeological projects at the site where the famous battle happened on June 17, 1775.
The aim of the crew is to uncover more about the earthen defense, referred to as the Citadel. These fortifications were actually built overnight by colonial soldiers ahead of the battle.
“We’ve known this fort was here, but still, after all this time, no one has definitively identified its location,” shared Lauryn Sharp, the archaeologist leading the project for Boston. “Even with the monument present, there was no clear evidence of where the actual redoubt was, so this is an exciting first step in piecing the puzzle together.”
A surprising find—two British gun flints, a French flint, and two musket balls—brings insights into the conflict, as detailed by historian Joel Boy. “This has been a remarkably successful project, shedding light on details we hadn’t known before,” he remarked.
Boy was particularly intrigued by one musket ball discovered in one of the trenches.
“We haven’t weighed it yet, but it likely came from a state gun,” Boy elaborated. “This one trench appears to hold materials used by both sides. It hit the ground at moderate speed and has a unique sprue, indicating a specific shape.”
The City of Boston Archeology Program, along with the American Veterans Archaeological Recovery (AVAR), is conducting the excavation. AVAR is dedicated to helping veterans transition into careers in archaeology, especially focusing on battlefields.
Dr. Stephen Humphreys, AVAR’s CEO, said, “Having served in the military, veterans bring a unique understanding of conflict and what it means to fight.”
Humphreys further emphasized the excavation’s significance from both military and historical viewpoints. “Archaeology allows us to delve deeper into the genuine experiences of soldiers, which my crew is already familiar with due to their military backgrounds. Often, all that’s left from those who fought in this battle are just a musket ball, a flint, or a button.”
Team members acknowledged the thrill of their finds but reiterated the poignant reality that these artifacts represent real families affected by the battle. “251 years ago, many men on both sides fought and lost their lives here. The excitement about these discoveries should be balanced with compassion for the human aspect involved,” Boy noted.
The artifacts will undergo examination in a lab and later be included in a digital archive.
“History often feels distant when we read about it, but finding objects in the ground brings a tangible, three-dimensional quality to it,” Boy added.
The city of Boston initially intended to wrap up the project in two weeks; however, that timeline might be extended. Meanwhile, part of AVAR’s team is preparing to head overseas.
“We’re privileged to take some fellow veterans and crew members to Sicily to examine World War II bombers. It’s a way to seek closure for some families,” Humphreys said. “This is just a piece of a broader range of conflict sites we will be addressing, aiming to educate more Americans about our military history.”
