The legacy of Mars: battlefield archaeology and improved military wellbeing

Abstract

Engaging on challenging duties, and returning to civilian life, are part of a routine military life both of which may negatively impact on their wellbeing. Numerous initiatives exist which aim to support the wellbeing of serving/transitioning personnel including, more recently, archaeology-based programs. However, little is known about the impact of archaeology–based programs making it difficult to know if they should be recommended or not. This study sought to empirically determine if involvement in the Waterloo Uncovered (WU) archaeology-based program had a positive impact on mental wellbeing in veterans and serving military personnel (VSMP). VSMP (n=36) who participated in WU programs in 2017 or 2019 completed questionnaires assessing their mental wellbeing using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) at baseline, immediately after the dig and 11 weeks later. Results indicate measurable and sustained improvements in psychological well-being in VSMP although further work is required to measure how this influences transition to civilian life.