What does archaeology contribute to our understanding of both George Washington and the Mount Vernon plantation? Print out this list of artifacts and take it with you on your visit to the Donald W. Reynolds Education Center and Museum. These objects were discovered during archaeological excavations at Mount Vernon.  As you look for these artifacts in the exhibits you'll discover how each helps us learn about George Washington and his life at Mount Vernon.

Can’t find the artifacts in the museum?

Slave Work

Archaeological excavations have unearthed a lot of artifacts that tell us about the daily lives of slaves. Most labored in the fields planting tobacco and grain; others had specialized skills and tasks to perform such as blacksmithing and coopering. The artifacts below help illustrate the story of enslaved labor or work at Mount Vernon.

This iron strap helped to secure the staves, or wood pieces, that a cooper used to make barrels.

 

Washington could not run to the store and buy bricks to construct the buildings on his plantation. Instead, they were made on site by slaves.

 

Hoes were an important tool on the plantation. Used to create furrows for planting seeds, they would have been made and repaired by slave blacksmiths including Nat and George.

This is another example of a smaller hoe found at Mount Vernon.

TThis colter foot was part of a plow. It was found near the Blacksmith’s shop.

This saw helped cut a variety of things on the plantation. What is different about this saw compared to the ones we have today?

Horseshoes are a fairly common artifact at the plantation. It was probably made here for one of Washington’s horses, Nelson or Blueskin.

Ordering clothes from England was expensive in the 18th century, so oftentimes cloth was woven from sheep’s wool. These sheep shears were used by slaves to trim wool.

 

At Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill site, archaeologists excavated this shovel. Shovels could have been used to clean animal pens, move grain between bins, or turn malt.

After the sheep were sheared and the wool woven into cloth, the slaves who worked as seamstresses sewed clothes, shoes, and other fabric items using these straight pins.

Does this artifact look familiar? Here’s a hint, it was used to protect your fingers from sharp objects like straight pins and needles.

One of Martha Washington’s duties on the estate was to oversee the quality of sewing. This denier gauge was used to count the number of threads per inch in a garment to ensure quality.

Slave Life

How did the slaves spend their time when they weren’t working? Outside of labor, not much is known about the daily lives of slaves because Washington recorded little of it, and few slaves knew how to read and write. By excavating the House for Families slave quarters, archaeologists have found more information on this aspect of plantation life.

There was a striking difference between Washington’s clothes and slaves clothes. These buttons are a few examples of the difference. Compare it to the buttons you see on Washington’s uniforms around the Education Center.

Artifacts such as this shoe buckle gives insight on specific aspects of 18th century life, such as clothing.

Marbles were popular toys in the 18th century as they are today.

This is a course earthenware bowl used to prepare dishes like stews.

A jaw harp is an instrument that Mount Vernon slaves used to make music.

  

Childhood at Mount Vernon

What was it like to be a child in the 18th century? No video games, no bikes, no TV! Through archaeology, we have learned a bit about how children, like Jackie and Patsy Custis, would have spent their free time.

I’m sure all kids can identify these two things. They are dolls made of clay who have lost their heads!

This mini metal bowl could have been part of a dollhouse tea set. Do you ever have tea parties with your dolls?

Elite Society

George Washington strove to increase his class status the majority of his life. He did this by ordering the most fashionable sets of plates, increasing the size of his home, and marrying a wealthy widow. Archaeological findings have been able to track the progression of Washington’s increasing social status, and artifacts prove he was able to afford some of the most fashionable household times available.

This salver (or serving tray) fragment was part of a set that the Washington’s would have stacked to serve desserts. The archaeological example sits next to a whole slaver in the museum so that you can see what it would have looked like.

Ceramic sherds, or fragments of pottery, can be put back together like a puzzle. These mended sherds give us an idea of what the Washington’s used to set their table.

 

This trunk plate was found in a trash pit near the Mansion. It would have been attached to a trunk like the one it is displayed with in the museum.

Below are a few examples of original objects found in the Mansion by the Restoration staff and put on display in the museum.

This cornerstone was part of the mansion before Washington remodeled it. It was put in by his brother, Lawrence Washington.

In order to keep excess mud from the bottom of their shoes, men in the 18th century used this book scraper to try to keep their shoes and boots cleaner.

This medallion is also on display in the large dining room in the mansion and the west parlor.

These repeated decorations on the ceiling stylize rooms in the mansion.

This frieze ornament show the style of the 18th century for the elite society.

This ceiling piece was made by a hired stucco worker.

This molding is also found in the large dining room in the mansion.

Washington wanted something "plain and elegent" for his architecural decorations, such as this molding.

Good luck on your scavenger hunt!