'Remarkable' discovery of unexploded shell at Culloden Battlefield
Experts say find shows there are ‘many more secrets and stories’ to be uncovered
It is one of the most explosive discoveries to emerge from a seminal site in Scottish history, and will now allow scholars to better understand the brutal battle that shaped the modern day United Kingdom.
A team of archeologists, metal detectorists, and volunteers led by the National Trust for Scotland have uncovered an unexploded mortar shell from Culloden Battlefield which is thought to have been fired by government artillery.
The find, described by experts as “remarkable,” marks the first piece of complete government ordnance recovered from the site near Inverness, and provides fresh evidence for the deployment and action of government and Jacobite forces at pivotal moments in the battle.
The announcement of the discovery comes just days ahead of the 280th anniversary of the final Jacobite uprising at Culloden, which marked a decisive defeat for the army led by Bonnie Prince Charlie at the hands of the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops.
Many other projectiles, including cannon shot, musket balls and fragments of mortar shells, have been uncovered at Culloden, but never before has undetonated ordnance been found. Parts of the battlefield are on boggy ground, and it is thought the 5.5 inch shell landed on wet ground and the fuse extinguished before it could ignite the gunpowder.
The shell, which weighs around eight kilograms, is thought to have been fired from one of the government army’s six Coehorn mortars, lightweight, squat guns that shot explosive shells in high arcs over lines of troops.
Fragments of other shells from Coehorn mortars have previously been found at Culloden and at Glen Shiel, where Coehorns were first used during a battle on British soil in June 1719, but the recent discovery is the first complete and unexploded example ever to have been recovered from a Jacobite battlefield.
Derek Alexander, head of archeology at NTS, said: “This is a remarkable - dare I say, explosive - find of the kind archaeologists dream of, but never expect to encounter.
“Along with the other projectiles recovered, this discovery helps us better understand the formation of troops and concentration of fire during this brief, but brutal, battle. The mortars may have been aiming at the Jacobite artillery, so the place where the shell landed may mark the heart of the Culloden battlefield.
“The ground rises slightly in this area, providing a better vantage point, and it is adjacent to the old road along which artillery could’ve moved more easily, making it a plausible location for the Jacobite artillery positions.”
The mortar shell was discovered in a field to the north-west of the memorial cairn by the team led by Mr Alexander and Tony Pollard, professor of conflict history and archaeology at the University of Glasgow. The dig was part of a week-long programme of fieldwork, including digging test pits, machine trenching, metal detecting and mapping, at the Culloden Battlefield in October 2025.
Although the site in question has never been explored previously, Mr Alexander said the team did not have “high expectations,” given acidic soil was likely to have impacted the preservation of any artefacts, with the broken ground making detecting difficult.
However, during the excavation, over 100 projectiles, including lead musket balls and pistol shot, were uncovered, and Mr Alexander said the shell discovery had left the team “invigorated” to look for more finds. “It’s clear there are many more secrets and stories to be uncovered at Culloden,” he explained.
Cleaning of the shell by conservator Will Murray at the Scottish Conservation Studio confirmed the presence of a bung, and digital X‑ray imaging demonstrated conclusively that the object was hollow with an internal chamber.
The shell still retained part of its original plug, and plant fibres trapped in corrosion layers were also recovered for future analysis. The shell was assessed by specialist UXO contractor, Ramora UK who, under controlled conditions, removed the bung and emptied out the contents.
On exposing the degraded black powder to the air there was a slight exothermic reaction. Ramora safely cleaned out the interior of the shell, preserved samples of the contents for further study, and certified the shell as free from explosive hazard.
Mr Alexander added: “We have a more vivid image of how the battle played out, but the discovery also tells a human story. Mortar shells mark their path through the air with a smoke trail from the lit fuse, helping the government artillery officers to know how to adjust the length of the fuse to ensure maximum damage. This shell may have been a failed first shot. When it didn’t explode as expected, the Jacobite fighters standing nearby must have felt an immense relief.
Prof Pollard said: “Artillery played a vital role at Culloden, particularly on Cumberland’s side, where the Royal Artillery’s cannon were well served by experienced gunners; after disabling the Jacobite guns in counter-battery fire, they delivered round shot, grape shot and canister shot at the Jacobite infantry, first as they were stationary and then as they charged across the wide expanse of open moor.
“We have found evidence for all these types of shot, but our previous archaeological investigations have also recovered fragments from an exploded mortar shell. This was fired into the mass of Jacobites as they engaged in hand-to-hand fighting on Cumberland’s left, landing so close that their detonation risked friendly fire casualties. Their location is a clear indication that the impact of the Jacobite charge was taken extremely seriously and regarded as an immediate threat to Cumberland’s line.”
The mortar shell will be on temporary display at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre for two weeks before it moves into a permanent display in due course.
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