Food for thought: reconstructing the diet of Napoleon's Grand Army | Jennifer Raff

A recent analysis from a 19th century mass grave has revealed the surprisingly complex dietary - and social - diversity among Napoleon's armed forces

Understanding the historic past can be incredibly challenging. Written records are only as accurate as the knowledge of the author, and historical narratives can be influenced by political orientations and specific agendas. Even accurate depictions of historical events may not reveal the whole truth; how some people may have experienced a particular event may differ radically from how the majority of people experienced it. The version of history that makes its way into history books can be incomplete.

That's why archaeology is necessary to corroborate written documents of historical events. Physical evidence is a powerful check on speculation, deceit, and inaccuracy.