The remains of a 17th-century structure have been unearthed just two feet under a parking lot in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, according to a Monday report.
The discovery occurred at the exact location where a new archaeological center is being built for Colonial Williamsburg, the largest museum dedicated to U.S. history globally, the Miami Herald reported.
Researchers reportedly discovered a foundation, a cellar and a 40-foot-deep well believed to belong to one of the oldest known structures in Williamsburg, according to officials. It dates back to Middle Plantation, a community that existed before Colonial Williamsburg and served as an “outgrowth” of the colonial capital of Jamestown, historians theorize, the outlet reported.
Jack Gary, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s director of archaeology, reportedly plans to continue with the original construction plan despite demands to relocate the facility. The new center will incorporate a 35-feet-long and 6-feet-wide glass floor that will allow visitors to view the artifacts, he told the outlet.
“You’ll stand right on top of it, looking down into the past,” Gary reportedly said. (RELATED: Archaeologists Discover 250-Year-Old Musket Balls From Battle Which Launched American Revolution)
Today, planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg is as easy as packing some snacks and hopping in the car, but travel time 250+ years ago was a different story… How long would it have taken you to travel here in the 18th century?
Read more here: https://t.co/ZJ3aOPy4mY 🐎 pic.twitter.com/vAoKrlWGEr
— Colonial Williamsburg (@colonialwmsburg) August 10, 2024
Artifacts found at the site indicate that the home was owned by a “somewhat affluent” family, as evidenced by the discovery of Chinese porcelain, a silver teaspoon and dozens of clay wig curlers, Gary told the Miami Herald. It was probably torn down between 1737 and 1740 with its parts salvaged for use in other building projects, the outlet reported.
The new Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center is reportedly set to open in 2026, two months behind schedule, according to officials. The center will stand as a testament to the layers of history beneath Williamsburg’s surface, reminding visitors that history is literally underfoot.
