Archaeology & Research

Archaeological investigations at Kingsmill have revealed one of the most important and well-documented collections of colonial-era sites in Virginia, offering a rare, ground-level view of life from the early 1600s through the 18th century. Beginning in the early 1970s, large-scale excavations—led by archaeologist William Kelso and supported by Anheuser-Busch—uncovered more than a dozen distinct sites, including plantation homes, wells, outbuildings, and work areas dating as early as 1619. These discoveries provided a “microcosm” of colonial Virginia, documenting not only wealthy landowners but also the lives of enslaved Africans and laborers through artifacts such as household goods, tools, food remains, and structural features. One notable discovery involved possible slave graves around 24 individuals form the 18th century.

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Excavations identified brick walkways, manor house foundations, and evidence of early industrial and agricultural activity, while later digs uncovered 19th-century slave quarters that were subsequently reused by Union soldiers during the Civil War. The site also yielded insights into cultural interaction among Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans, making it especially valuable for understanding the social and economic complexity of early America. Today, thousands of recovered artifacts are preserved in research collections, and although many features have been reburied for protection, Kingsmill remains a key archaeological landscape that continues to inform historians about nearly two centuries of colonial life along the James River.