The skeletal remains of a Hessian soldier found on an archeological expedition in New Jersey finally have a face, writes Rob Jennings for NJ.com.  

In 2022, volunteers discovered 15 sets of skeletal remains in a trench just outside Red Bank Battlefield Park in Gloucester County.  

Recently New Jersey State Police artist Moises Martinez has rendered one of the soldiers who died fighting for Britain against the Continental Army in 1777. 

“It’s not just a jumble of bones. It’s an actual human being,” said Jen Janofsky, director of Red Bank Battlefield Park. 

Hessians were German soldiers allied with the British. The remains, including musket balls and a King George III gold guinea, confirm their identity. 

The skull, one of two complete crania, belonged to a soldier dubbed “No. 9,” said archeologist Wade Catts. 

The Battle of Red Bank was a crucial victory for the Continental Army. Further testing on well-preserved bones may provide more information. The discovery has sparked renewed interest in the battlefield, with guided tours set for August. 

 The remains’ fate remains uncertain, as Germany has not claimed them. 

Read more about the expedition and The Battle of Red Bank on NJ.com.