17th-Century Home Unearthed in Colonial Williamsburg During Archaeology Center Construction

17th century colonial homePhoto byK. Mitch HodgeonUnsplash

Last spring, while breaking ground for a new archaeology center in Colonial Williamsburg, crews made an unexpected discovery: the remains of a 17th-century home, buried beneath what had been a parking lot since the 1960s. The find, which includes a 32- by 24-foot brick foundation and an adjacent well, is providing new insights into life in the area before Williamsburg officially became a city.

Archaeologists working on the site in Virginia believe the home was built as early as 1660, making it the oldest known colonial structure in Williamsburg. At that time, the area was known as Middle Plantation, a settlement that would later be renamed Williamsburg and serve as the capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 until 1780. The home is thought to have been demolished in the 1720s or 1730s.

Jack Gary, executive director of archaeology at Colonial Williamsburg, explained:

It’s just wild for us to have found something like that—and appropriate, too.

The discovery is particularly fitting, given that it was made during the construction of a facility dedicated to preserving and studying the area’s rich historical artifacts.

The excavation has uncovered a wealth of artifacts that suggest the home’s residents were affluent. Among the items found are imported ceramics, wig curlers, diamond-shaped glass window panes, and the handle of a silver teaspoon. These discoveries provide a glimpse into the lifestyle of Williamsburg’s early inhabitants. Gary explained:

A lot of the materials are really the types of materials that an affluent household would have. This is an amazing site. The artifacts coming out of it are really significant for us to be able to tell the story of what life was like before Williamsburg was ever even founded in 1699. This house was here before then.

Once the excavation is complete, the new archaeology center will be built on top of the site. Most of the foundation will be covered, but a small section will be visible through a glass floor, allowing visitors to view the remnants of this colonial-era home. Gary said:

Our visitors will be able to literally stand on top of history looking down at it. It will really remind them that, everywhere they go in Williamsburg, there is history literally underneath their feet.

In addition to the 17th-century home, the site has yielded other significant finds in recent years. Earlier this year, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Revolutionary War military barracks. Excavations also revealed chimney bricks, pottery, horseshoes, and jewelry fragments likely belonging to officers stationed at the site.

The new archaeology center, slated to open in 2026, will showcase artifacts from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Visitors will be able to engage with the artifacts through hands-on activities and observe the preservation process in the public archaeology teaching lab. Gary noted:

Most people don’t realize how much work happens in the lab. Only 40 percent of a project takes place at the excavation site. The other 60 percent happens in the lab. This new archaeology center will allow visitors to follow these projects to completion.

The discovery of the 17th-century home offers a unique and detailed snapshot of life in Williamsburg before it became a city, and the new archaeology center will provide a state-of-the-art facility for preserving and studying these invaluable pieces of history.