Animal Species

Archaeologists discovered over 25,000 animal bones during the excavation of the House for Families.  The bones were identified by a zooarchaeologist, someone who studies animal bones for archaeologists.  Dr. Joanne Bowen of Colonial Williamsburg analyzed the bones for Mount Vernon and identified the following species represented in the cellar.  To read more about why these animal bones were found in the slave quarter excavation please visit the Faunal Remains page.