Archaeologists have found an unexploded mortar shell at Culloden Battlefield after 280 years
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Archaeologists have found a mortar shell from the bloodiest battle in Scotland’s history – a shell that never exploded.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) announced in mid-April that its archaeologists had discovered a mortar shell at Culloden Battlefield, just outside Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
The Battle of Culloden was fought on April 16, 1746, when a Jacobite army led by Charles Edward Stuart – known as Bonnie Prince Charlie – came face-to-face with soldiers loyal to King George II.
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In less than an hour, the Jacobites were crushed, ending any serious bid to restore the Stuart monarchy. Culloden remains the last major battle fought on British soil.
Officials believe the newly recovered shell was fired by government artillery during the war.
A hardened artillery shell, found at Culloden, provides rare visual evidence from one of Britain’s most decisive battles. (National Trust for Scotland; Will Murray)
“Complete and loaded with gunpowder when found, the 5.5-inch shell is the first piece of complete government law recovered from the Culloden battlefield. [It] “provides new evidence of the deployment and conduct of government and Jacobite forces at key moments in the war,” the statement said.
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“Many other projectiles, including cannon balls, musket balls and fragments of mortar shells, were found at Culloden, but no unexploded gun was found,” the statement said.
The shell, weighing about 18 pounds, is believed to have been fired from one of Coehorn’s government bodies.
Archaeologists have found an unexploded mortar shell at Scotland’s Culloden Battlefield, providing new insight into the 1746 conflict. (iStock; National Trust for Scotland)
It was discovered during excavations in October 2025, but officials did not announce the find until April 16 – which marked the 280th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden.
Other explosives were also found, including a shotgun and lead musket balls.
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“Parts of the battlefield are located in a desert area, and it is believed that the shell landed on a wet surface and the fuse went off before igniting the powder,” officials noted.
The shell still contained remnants of its original plug and remnants of plant material, which were recovered for analysis.
“These findings help us better understand the formation of troops and the intensity of fire during this short, but brutal battle.”
Officials said that, when the black powder in the shell was exposed, there was a “small exothermic reaction.”
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The technician “safely cleaned the interior of the shell, preserved samples of the contents for further research, and verified that the shell was free of explosives,” the release noted.
In a statement, NTS head of archaeology, Derek Alexander, called the find “a surprising — dare I say, explosive — discovery of the kind that archaeologists dream about, but never expect to encounter.”
Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, is seen on the left. Archaeologists continue to find new evidence from Culloden. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images; National Trust for Scotland)
“Together with other projectiles found, this discovery helps us better understand the formation of troops and the intensity of fire during this short, but brutal battle,” Alexander said.
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“The bodies may have been aimed at Jacobite artillery, so the area where the shell landed may mark the heart of the Culloden battlefield.”
An NTS official told Fox News Digital that the shell is buried about a foot underground — something only professional archaeologists can uncover — and that the site remains safe for visitors.
Archaeologists in Scotland previously found more than 100 projectiles at Culloden Battlefield. (National Trust for Scotland)
The discovery comes months after officials announced a similar discovery in the same war zone.
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In late 2025, officials announced that archaeologists had found a cache of ammunition fired during the Battle of Culloden, shedding new light on its final moments.
