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The Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on 17 June 1775, was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the American Revolutionary War. On the night of 16 June, around 1,200 colonial militiamen built an earthen fort, or redoubt, on top of Breed’s Hill. Come morning, the British stormed the fort, ultimately defeating the colonists but losing many troops in the process. The encounter has been well documented, but efforts to identify the exact location of the redoubt and better understand its structure have been ongoing for many years.
This summer, a team led by Boston City archaeologist Joe Bagley embarked on new investigations. They combined recent ground-penetrating radar surveys with new analysis of historical records and maps to place their trenches. Almost immediately, they found signs of the battle.
The excavations uncovered definitive evidence of the removal of soil to build the redoubt and the creation of a defensive ditch. Around this ditch were found various items connected to the conflict, including several gun flints, part of a musket, and eight marble-sized musket balls belonging to both sides; the markings and shape of the balls show that they had been fired but did not hit anything. The archaeologists also found objects potentially left behind by British troops occupying the area after the battle, including teacups, tobacco pipes, buttons, and a wig curler. No human remains were discovered during the excavations. The team will now study and catalogue their finds in the lab.
Text: Amy Brunskill /Image: Cydney Scott, Boston University
