The structure dates back as far as 1660 and likely belonged to an "affluent" family.
Brendan Sostak/The Colonial Williamsburg FoundationArchaeologists working to unearth the 17th-century home.
While carrying out excavations in preparation for the construction of a new museum in Williamsburg, Virginia, archaeologists unearthed an unexpected find.
While digging, they came upon the foundation of what’s now believed to be the oldest known colonial home in the city. It likely belonged to an “affluent” 17th-century family, and it lay undisturbed for centuries before the archaeologists accidentally stumbled upon it.
Researchers also uncovered thousands of artifacts, like silverware and ceramics, that paint a picture of daily life in colonial America. Now, experts are contemplating how to best preserve this structure while making way for the city’s new state-of-the-art archaeological center.
Archaeologists In Williamsburg Make A Surprising Discovery
On April 21, 2023, workers officially broke ground on the city’s new Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center, an innovative complex meant to facilitate archaeological and historical research.
Brendan Sostak/The Colonial Williamsburg FoundationThe home may have been built as early as 1660, making it the oldest known house from the colonial era in Williamsburg.
During excavations ahead of the building’s construction, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a 17th-century home. The structure likely dates back to around 1660. This makes it among the oldest found homes ever discovered in Williamsburg.
In its heyday, Williamsburg served as the capital of colonial Virginia and was home to the country’s second oldest university, the College of William & Mary. It remained the center of politics and education for more than 81 years.
According to Colonial Williamsburg’s official website, the historic area of the city contains 88 original buildings dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, including the courthouse and Bruton Parish Church.
Library of CongressColonial Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church in 1902.
This most recent discovery has given archaeologists a chance to uncover more information about one of the most important sites in colonial America.
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Artifacts From The 17th-Century Home Paint A Picture Of Affluence
During excavations, archaeologists unearthed several artifacts that provided clues about the owners’ social status. In a video, Jack Gary, the executive director of archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg, described finding pieces of pottery and silver.
“A lot of the materials are what an affluent household would have had,” Gary stated. “We’re finding things like plaster from the walls, leaded casement windows, and high-end ceramics. And we just found the handle of a silver teaspoon, which is just wild.”
Archaeologists hope that these artifacts will shed more light on life in Colonial Williamsburg and in the 17th century in general.
Brendan Sostak/The Colonial Williamsburg FoundationA ceramic fragment discovered in the home’s cellar.
As for what happens after excavations are complete, archaeologists have stated that plans to build the new archaeology center are still underway. Researchers will preserve the site and install glass floors in the new facility to show off the foundation beneath.
“Our visitors will literally be able to stand on top of history and look down on it and it will remind them that wherever they go in Williamsburg, there’s history underneath their feet,” said Gary.
The Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center is set to open in 2026 and will house the world’s largest collection of artifacts from colonial America. With such a groundbreaking piece of history right under its foundations, the center will be all the more special.
After reading about the 17th-century home discovered in Colonial Williamsburg, dive into the story of Molly Pitcher, the American Revolutionary War hero. Then, read about the enduring mystery of the lost Roanoke Colony in North Carolina.
