Archaeologists have recovered a bullet in the Arabian desert that they are “almost 100% certain” was fired by Lawrence of Arabia in 1917 during a guerrilla attack that occurred on the Hallat Amar train.
Ever since Lawrence of Arabia whose real name is T.E. Lawrence rose to fame with his book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom , which details his war experience in the middle east, many have suspected for a time that he may have told stories too grand to be true.
“Lawrence has something of a reputation as a teller of tall tales,” said Dr. Neil Faulkner, the lead researcher “But this bullet—and the other archaeological evidence we unearthed during ten years of fieldwork—indicates how reliable his account … is.”
The bullet found at the famous train ambush comes from a Colt 1911 , which stood out among the standard British , German-Turkish pistols and rifles that were used during the attack. Lawrence is the only among the party who is known to posses a Colt.
“I think it’s very, very nice to have a bullet that we’re almost 100% certain was fired by Lawrence himself,” Faulkner stated “What we have done is add to a picture which has been building over 10 years.”
T.E. Lawrence whose full name is Thomas Edward Lawrence, in addition to being a military officer was also an archaeologist, and a diplomat. His book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom which details his service as a liaison officer to Arab forces during the Arab Revolt of 1916 to 1918 against the Ottoman Empire, became the basis for the 1962 epic historical film Lawrence of Arabia which starred Peter O’Toole. The film went on to win seven academy awards.
In 1991 the movie was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” enough , thus it was selected to be preserved in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
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