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Archaeology has shaped our knowledge of George and Martha Washington's life and the daily experience of the enslaved community at Mount Vernon.

Archaeologists use diverse bits of evidence to learn more about how people shaped the landscape of Mount Vernon, and in turn how the landscape shaped the interactions of people with each other.

This evidence is incredibly diverse in form and age. Everything from a building foundation to a small seed bead used to adorn a dress, a several thousand-year-old stone tool to coins dropped by a tourist twenty years ago, can be encountered by our staff on a daily basis.

But large or small, ancient or new, each piece of evidence is valuable as a window into a moment in time.

Mount Vernon’s archaeological holdings are an extremely valuable resource for understanding the long history of humans in the Chesapeake region of the United States.

A professional archaeological survey conducted in 1984 identified dozens of archaeological sites, and over a hundred locations of archaeological interest, throughout the property. Artifacts from these sites provide evidence of human lifeways from the Early Archaic period (beginning ca. 8,000 B.C.E.) through the modern day. Of course, many of these sites are particularly important for the study of eighteenth-century plantation life in the Chesapeake.

Major excavations include the house for families slave quarter, slave cemetery, Washington’s Distillery, the south grove midden, and the upper garden.

Slave Cemetery Survey
Archaeology

Slave Cemetery Survey

In 2014 archaeological investigations at the Mount Vernon Slave Cemetery began and is still ongoing today.

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Ask An Archaeologist

Curious when and where you can see Mount Vernon's archaeology team at work? Want to understand what they are looking for? 

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Native American Occupation

Archaeological investigations show that Mount Vernon was an attractive location for Native communities for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the Washington family.

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Medicine Jar

What’s inside a cracked medicine jar found in the
South Grove Midden on the estate grounds?

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The South Grove Midden

This was one of the most exciting and informative archaeological projects at Mount Vernon.

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House for Families

The House for Families, in existence by the 1760s, was the main dwelling for enslaved people who lived at Washington’s Mansion House Farm.

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Excavating the North Grove

Explore the fascinating artifacts uncovered by Mount Vernon archaeologists ahead of the Mansion Revitalization Project.

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Boiling, Baking, and Curling 18th-Century Wigs

Archaeologists interpret artifacts by exploring the form and origins of objects, then attempt to situate such objects within broader social functions, and finally begin to untangle how those broad social contexts can inform our interpretation of object used in daily life.

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Quiz

How much do you know about archaeology at Mount Vernon? 

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Artifacts Help Tell The Story
House for Families

Artifacts Help Tell The Story

Archaeological excavation of the cellar trash pit of the House for Families revealed many artifacts that its residents owned and used.

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Porter's Lodge

Many discoveries were made at the Porter’s Lodge site, including finding a 1780s Spanish half real coin.

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Archaeology at the Distillery

The results from archaeological efforts led to the successful reconstruction of the Distillery at Mount Vernon.

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Kitchen Excavation

During this excavation, we explored what Mount Vernon looked like before the Revolutionary War.

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Archaeology Projects

Archaeology work has been done at Mount Vernon since the early 20th century.

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Researching Slavery

At Mount Vernon we use George Washington's words, combined with archaeology and oral history with descendants, to piece together the stories of Mount Vernon’s enslaved community.

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Terminology

Archaeologists use a wide range of terminology in their work. Explore this list of some of their most commonly used terms and tools.

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Volunteer or Intern with Mount Vernon

Volunteers and interns have helped Mount Vernon's archaeologists since 1987, donating more than 50,000 hours towards researching and restoring the estate.

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Archaeological Collection Tour


Archaeological Field Research Manager Joe Downer provides a glimpse of Mount Vernon’s archaeological collection.

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Archaeological Collections Online

Excavations at Mount Vernon have yielded over a million artifacts. They provide a rich assemblage to study the intertwined lives of the plantation community: enslaved individuals, hired white workers, and Washington family members.

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