Archaeologists in Virginia have discovered what is believed to be the remains of a military barracks Revolutionary warincluding chimney stones and musket balls with soldier teeth notches.
The site is on the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum that tells the story of the capital of the British colony of Virginia in the 18th century.
Archaeologists also found pieces of pottery and jewelry commonly worn on the cufflinks of high-ranking officers, WAVY reported.
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Maps and documents from the time point to a barracks built between 1776 and 1777 for the Continental Army in the fight against the British, the museum said in a statement this week. The structure was designed to accommodate up to 2,000 soldiers and 100 horses.
The American Revolution started in 1775. The barracks are said to have been destroyed in 1781 by troops of the army of British general Lord Charles Cornwallis. His forces were headed to the crucial Battle of Yorktown, where the British suffered heavy losses and surrendered. The war officially ended in 1783.
Archaeological evidence of continental barracks in Virginia is rare, according to Colonial Williamsburg. This site is particularly valuable because it was used exclusively as a barracks. Furthermore, a significant portion of the country has remained largely undisturbed.
The site was discovered during an archaeological dig required prior to the construction of a proposed regional sports complex. The planned footprint has since shifted to preserve the approximately 3 to 4 hectare barracks site.
An initial dig last summer uncovered chimney bases and uncovered a military buckle and lead shot for muskets. Soldiers chewed the balls for their sweet taste.
Brendan Sostak / AP
Only a small percentage of the site has been excavated.
The museum tells the story of Colonial Williamsburg through interpreters and more than 400 restored or reconstructed buildings. It plans to use the site to tell the story of Williamsburg’s military involvement in the American Revolution and the daily lives of soldiers.
Also this week, archaeologists from Colonial Williamsburg said they had unearthed a 17th-century house, including plaster, high-quality ceramics and a silver teaspoon.
“This is an amazing site. The artifacts that come from it are of great importance to us in telling the story of what life was like before Williamsburg was founded,” said Jack Gary, executive director of archeology at Colonial Williamsburg.
The museum posted a video of some of the discovered relics on social media.
