About The Archaeological Collection

Artifacts recovered from the archaeological excavations are processed, analyzed, and housed in the archaeology laboratory. While archaeological investigations at Mount Vernon have occurred since the 1930s, the majority of the collections are from the permanent archaeology program established in 1987 and a survey of the property conducted by the Virginia Research Center for Archaeology in 1984 / 85.

Today, the archaeological collection contains over a million artifacts, such as

• domestic items: ceramics, glass, furniture hardware, and utensils
• personal effects:  tobacco pipes, wig curlers, and jewelry
• clothing remains: buttons, and buckles
• architectural fragments: brick, mortar, plaster, and stone
• faunal or animal bones
• floral or plant remains such as seeds and pits

These artifacts are the key to life at Mount Vernon during the 18th century. By studying faunal and floral remains archaeologists learn more about the diet of Mount Vernon’s residents; domestic, clothing and personal objects inform about daily life; while architectural artifacts provide clues to the layout and appearance of the plantation.

Click to read more about archaeology projects at Mount Vernon.  Visit an e-museum of artifacts from the kitchen midden.