From Lexington to Towton

Background: (In our best Paul Revere riding on a horse voice)

"Hear ye! Hear ye! Attention, good people of Concord. Musket balls found! Musket balls found!

Archaeologists recently discovered a cache of musket balls at Minute Man National Historical Park in Massachusetts. This site, known for the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775, is where the famous "shot heard 'round the world" was fired. These musket balls are significant as they provide tangible links to the skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, where colonial militias clashed with British troops, sparking the revolutionary movement that would lead to American independence.

From the birth of one revolution to the bloodbath of another, let’s march over to a time when English fields were littered with a different kind of projectile.

Deja Vu:

This musket ball discovery brings to mind the artifacts unearthed from the Battle of Towton. The Battle of Towton took place on March 29, 1461, during the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts between the houses of Lancaster and York. It was fought near the village of Towton in North Yorkshire and is considered the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil, with estimates of around 28,000 soldiers killed in a single day.

In 1996, a mass grave was discovered near the battlefield, containing the remains of soldiers who fought and died at Towton. Archaeologists from the Towton Battlefield Archaeological Project began extensive excavations, unearthing a variety of artifacts that provide a deeper understanding of the battle and the conditions faced by the soldiers.

• Skeletal Remains: The mass grave contained around 37 skeletons, many showing signs of brutal injuries, such as broken bones and skull fractures. Forensic analysis revealed that many of the injuries were inflicted by weapons such as swords, poleaxes, and arrows, highlighting the brutal hand-to-hand combat that took place.

• Weaponry: Arrowheads, sword fragments, and pieces of armor.

• Personal Items: Rings, buckles, and coins were found, offering glimpses into the lives of the soldiers.

• Battlefield Features: Archaeologists also identified battlefield features such as ditches and earthworks, which provided strategic advantages during the battle. These features helped reconstruct the battlefield’s layout and understand the movements and tactics of the armies.

Fact: In 2010, years after the initial unearthing, archaeologists discovered a small, handheld gun, known as a "handgonne," at the Towton battlefield site. This find is particularly noteworthy because it represents one of the earliest uses of gunpowder weaponry in England.

The Towton handgonne is a small, simple firearm, likely made of iron or bronze. It would have been operated by placing gunpowder and a projectile (usually a lead ball) into the barrel, then igniting the gunpowder with a slow match or piece of burning rope. The explosion would propel the projectile out of the barrel.

List: Ya Dig?

• The Terracotta Army (1974): Unearthed near Xi'an, China, the Terracotta Army consists of thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.

• Ötzi the Iceman (1991): Discovered in the Alps on the border between Austria and Italy, Ötzi is a naturally mummified man who lived around 3300 BC.

• The Mask of Agamemnon (1876): Unearthed by Heinrich Schliemann in Mycenae, Greece, the Mask of Agamemnon is a gold funeral mask dating back to the 16th century BC. Although its association with the legendary king Agamemnon is disputed, the mask is a significant find that provides insight into Mycenaean burial practices and art.

• The Tomb of the Sunken Skulls (2018): Found in a Mesolithic site in Sweden, this burial includes skulls mounted on stakes, dating back to around 8,000 years ago.

Recommended Reading: Towton 1461: The Anatomy of a Battle

What drove the contending armies of York and Lancaster to fight at Towton and what is the truth behind the legends about this terrible encounter, where contemporaries record that the rivers ran red with blood? Andrew Boardman answers these questions and many more in the new updated edition of his classic account of Towton which provides a fascinating insight into the reality of the battlefield.