Colonial Williamsburg Archaeology

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Colonial Williamsburg's archaeologists use remains uncovered during excavation —combined with laboratory work, documentary research, and oral histories— to reveal information about the past.

10/16/2026

Last Friday, we celebrated the dedication and commemoration of the reconstructed African Baptist Meeting House. From the first shovel in the ground in early 2020 to today, it has truly been a full circle moment. It is not often in the field of archaeology that we get to see the work we do get reconstructed. It has been an incredible collaboration between the First Baptist community, the descendant community, Archaeology, Historic and Modern Buildings Trades, Architectural History, and everyone in-between!

Thank you to everyone who came out today and to everyone who has supported this momentous journey. This chapter may be closed but the story continues!

📸 Photo 1: Current and former Colonial Williamsburg Archaeologists who worked on the African Baptist Meeting House excavation: Katie, Meredith, Kyle, DéShondra, Lauren
📸Photo 2: Colonial Williamsburg Archaeologists DéShondra, Katie, and Lauren sitting inside the reconstructed African Baptist Meeting House
📸Photo 3: Bound archaeological report presented to the First Baptist Church and daughter churches. Reproduction money boxes based on excavated fragments found at the African Baptist Meeting House
📸Photo 4: James Ingram former Colonial Williamsburg Foundation actor/interpreter of Nation Builder Gowan Pamphlet speaking at the dedication ceremony. Brandon Lee, also pictured standing to the right, is the current actor/interpreter of Gowan Pamphlet
📸Photo 5: Colonial Williamsburg archaeologists with Connie Harshaw (center), President of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation
📸Photo 6: Ceremony attendees entering the reconstructed African Baptist Meeting House

10/05/2026

The archaeology never stops… and apparently, neither does the construction!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓-𝟐𝟏 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

We’ll reopen October 22 and look forward to welcoming you back. In the meantime, we’ll be busy making the CAC even better! But if you still need to get that archaeology fix (trust us we get it 😉), stop by and see our progress at the Peter Scott House and Shop site!

10/04/2026

Happy Oktoberfest, everyone! It’s the last day of Oktoberfest so let’s raise a mug (or two) to celebrate our favorite German stoneware—Westerwald!

This type of ceramic was produced in the Rhineland of Germany from the late 16th century through the 18th century. They are commonly decorated with blue (and sometimes purple) painting inside incised patterns, as seen in these two examples from the Printing Office and Anthony Hay’s Cabinetmaking Shop. The “GR” medallion is commonly found on Westerwald stoneware that was exported to the English market and may commemorate King George the First, Second, or Third, who ruled back-to-back from 1714 through 1820.

So, fill your tankard with your favorite seasonal beverage and toast to the Germans who invented it, to old King George, or whoever you like! Prost!

10/02/2026

This past weekend a group of Colonial Williamsburg archaeologists presented their research at the 86th Annual Archaeological Society of Virginia conference held in Richmond, Va. The team had a great time sharing research and seeing colleagues from across Virginia. The team presented on a variety of topics, including the ongoing work being done at the Peter Scott Shop and House site. We are so proud of them!

📸 Pictured Left to Right: Field Technician Alex M., Staff Archaeologist Erin S. , GIS Specialist Aaron L., Project Archaeologist Adam M., Field Technician Atticus W., and Senior Archaeologist Eric S.

09/22/2026

It might be a bit of a gloomy day, but we have some exciting news that will surely brighten your day!

Please join us in welcoming our newest Archaeological Field Technicians, Melanie Lloyd (left) and Sara Jaramillo (right)! Melanie is a familiar face, as she both interned and did her field school with us here at CW. Sara is joining us all the way from UMass Boston and is currently finishing her master's thesis. We are excited to have them join the CW Archaeology team! Yay!

09/19/2026

End of an era!

Its official, this week we moved the last little bit out of the old Archaeological Collections Building (ACB) and into our new home at the Campbell Archaeology Center (CAC). The ACB has been the home of archaeology here at Colonial Williamsburg for nearly 70 years and this is a bittersweet goodbye. To mark this chapter closing, we did a small processional of the "Archæology" sign lettering, complete with its iconic "Æ" ligature (wait, should we bring that back??) through town all the way from the ACB to the CAC. And of course, as we move into this new chapter, we couldn't forget to bring along the Ivor Noel Hume (both spiritually and literally!), who was the first Director of Archaeology here at Colonial Williamsburg.

A big heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has worked here, volunteered here, interned here, visited, or just cheered us on. We couldn't have done it without you, and we can't wait to keep doing it with you for the next 70 years! Huzzah!

09/18/2026

Hands-on Fridays are here!

Join us at the Campbell Archaeology Center for Hands-on Fridays! Explore the work of archaeologists through interactive stations that spark observation, interpretation, and storytelling. Identify mystery artifacts, examine objects up close, try your hand at mending broken pieces and explore how context helps reveal the stories objects can tell. Hands-on Fridays invite the whole family to explore how archaeologists turn objects into stories. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

📍Location: Public Archaeology Teaching Lab at the Campbell Archaeology Center
🗓️Date: Weekly, Every Friday
⏰Time: Free flow from 2:00-4:00PM

Add it to your MyCW Trip Planner: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/hands-on-fridays/

09/15/2026

New Programming Alert!!

Ask an Archaeologist!

Got a burning archaeology question? Now's your chance! Stop by the Peter Scott House and Shop Archaeology site and chat with real Colonial Williamsburg archaeologists, dig into their discoveries and find out what treasures are hiding just beneath our feet. Kids and grown-ups welcome! Weather dependent.

📍Location: Peter Scott House and Shop Archaeology Project
🗓️ Date: Weekly, Every Thursday
⏰Time: Free Flow from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Add it to your MyCW Trip Planner: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/ask-an-archaeologist/

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Williamsburg, VA
23187

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http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/

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