Siege Mines and Underground Warfare

When a forward assault on a fortified stronghold was not a viable option there was often only one alternative, to make like a mole and dig. The technique of undermining a site's defences is known in ancient sources reaching back as far as the Assyrians, although techniques have come a long way since the days of the Trojan Horse. This concise guide looks briefly at ancient techniques of siege warfare and subterranean mining, before focusing on the medieval and modern periods. Kenneth Wiggins discusses changes in techniques of tunnelling, attempts at countering such attacks through different types and designs of fortifications, the impact of gunpowder and the use of undermining during the Crusades, the English Civil War and through to the First World War.