Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
LiveScience
Revolutionary War barracks burned by the British discovered in Colonial Williamsburg
By Jennifer Nalewicki,
2024-05-17
Archaeologists in Colonial Williamsburg have discovered the remains of barracks along with artifacts, including chewed on lead bullets, dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Eighteenth-century maps of the site, which is located in eastern Virginia, and other historical documents give evidence that military housing existed near what is now a visitor center. However, it wasn't until excavations began last year that researchers unearthed bricks, which would have been used to build the structures between 1776 and 1777, according to a Colonial Williamsburg statement .
The construction work would have coincided with the Revolutionary War, which lasted from 1775 to 1783. The site itself is roughly 3 to 4 acres (1.2 to 1.6 hectares) in size.
A military belt buckle was one of several artifacts found at the barracks site. (Image credit: Brendan Sostak, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundtion)
The barracks were large enough to house up to 2,000 soldiers and 100 horses. But the building was short-lived. In 1781, Charles Cornwallis, a general in the British army, and his troops are said to have set fire to the barracks as they traveled east to the Battle of Yorktown.
During excavations, researchers also unearthed a variety of artifacts, including gun hardware, ceramics and soldiers' personal adornments, such as a metal belt buckle and a glass button. They also found lead shot riddled with teeth marks. (Often soldiers would chew on the lead, since it tasted sweet.)
The excavation site is currently covered up to help preserve the artifacts during the construction of a sports complex nearby.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0