May Archaeology Expedition-Archaeology at the 18th Century Blacksmith Shop

About This Event

The archaeology department is investigating an 18th-century Blacksmith shop that was run by Moses, an enslaved blacksmith owned by James Madison, Sr. Moses ran the blacksmith shop during the American Revolution. Moses’ blacksmith shop provided supplies for the Continental Army during the War. We are investigating this site to find evidence for the forge, items produced, and structures that were present at the site. The site is adjacent to the iconic Madison-era 1810s-era temple near the Montpelier main house. Moses’s blacsksmith shop was moved during the 1810s reconfiguration of the main house formal grounds. For the long-term goals of this [caption id="attachment_15963" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dennis conducting metal detector surveys at the 18th century Blacksmith Shop.[/caption] project, see the following StoryMap on Blacksmithing at Montpelier. During the Fall of 2025 we will be surveying Moses’ 18th century Blacksmith Shop and opening initial units. During the 2026 season we will do more extensive excavation of Moses’ shop. During these program, participants will take part in excavations and blacksmithing activities at the site, including: Excavations in 5ft x 5ft units looking for the remains of forges at the site Metal detector surveys to determine the extent of the site Shovel test pits where we will be exploring the stratigraphy of the site Processing archaeological finds with experienced blacksmiths interpreting the 18th-century iron objects (including tools, clipped iron, and slag) recovered from the site Tours of sites related to the blacksmith site This is a week-long, hands-on educational experience in which you will work side-by-side with professional archaeologists and fellow alumni performing excavation and survey of archaeological research sites on the Montpelier property! Continue to learn the techniques and processes of archaeology while contributing to the discovery and preservation of history. In addition to