New Battle of Culloden artefacts uncovered including clan chief's shoe buckle

Archaeologists have unearthed fascinating new artefacts from the Culloden Battlefield.

Researchers working around a 60 square-metre area close to what was the Government frontline at the 1746 battle uncovered incredible finds, including a shoe buckle that is thought to have belonged to a wounded clan chief. Elsewhere, a variety of musket balls and grapeshot were also discovered.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) revealed the findings ahead of the 278th anniversary of the battle, which was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising. Held on April 16, 1746, it saw approximately 1,600 men killed in less than an hour.

According to NTS archaeologists, two items uncovered are especially interesting: a single piece of heavy lead grapeshot and a broken copper alloy buckle. It is believed that the latter might have belonged to Donald Cameron of Lochiel, who was the hereditary chief of Clan Cameron and a staunch Jacobite — leading the 400-strong Cameron regiment into the battle.

NTS head of archaeology Derek Alexander commented: "The grape shot has obviously hit something with great force as one side of the lead ball has been completely flattened. The juxtaposition of both these artefacts, recovered from the same hole and within 20-30m of the British Army front line, is intriguing and the obvious conclusion would be that the grape shot hit the shoe buckle and broke off one end.

"This is of particular significance as one of the most recounted stories of the Jacobite charge at Culloden is the wounding of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, known as The Gentle Lochiel. The late Christopher Duffy, a leading authority on the Battle of Culloden, tells how Lochiel, advancing at the head of his regiment (the Camerons), was so near Barrell's (government regiment) that he fired his pistol, and was drawing his sword when he fell, wounded with grapeshot in both ankles.

"This description shows us that Lochiel was hit in the ankles charging forward and if he had been wearing shoes with buckles, it is possible that these would have been hit and partly absorbed the impact. We can't prove that this is what happened but both objects combine to tell the story of the terrible events that took place on that day."

Donald Cameron of Lochiel played a key role in the 1745 Rising. Despite being wounded at Culloden, he was able to escape to France with Bonnie Prince Charlie before passing away from a stroke at the age of 53 in 1748.

After the rising, he was give the nickname 'The Gentle Lochiel' as a result of him preventing the Jacobite army from sacking the city of Glasgow in 1746.

Donald Cameron of Lochiel, the current and 28th chief, said: "This fascinating archaeological discovery adds to the legends surrounding one of my most famous ancestors, the Gentle Lochiel, and certainly tallies with the fact that he was injured by grape shot in that particular location at Culloden.

"We will, of course, never know the full picture but it's intriguing that the battlefield is still producing such interesting artefacts even today."

The objects were found during test pit excavation and metal detecting towards the end of 2023. Since then, researchers have been busy analysing them.

NTS operations manager for Culloden Gail Cleaver added: "Culloden Moor is a powerfully emotive place, and it's rare for a landscape of this age to be so relatively intact. The National Trust for Scotland has been acquiring and caring for parts of the battlefield since 1937.

"But the field of battle and the views that surround it are increasingly under threat from development and, as well as sharing the stories of Culloden, our charity works hard to protect its sense of place."

More information can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website.

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