**Archaeologists Discover Revolutionary War-Era Continental Army Barracks in Colonial Williamsburg**
Recent archaeological excavations in Colonial Williamsburg have uncovered barracks believed to have been built by the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War between 1776 and 1777. Experts believe that these barracks were burned by British troops under the command of General Charles Cornwallis in 1781, offering new insights into the lives of soldiers during this pivotal time in American history.
### A Historical Discovery Beneath Colonial Williamsburg
As preparations began for the construction of a new sports center on Colonial Williamsburg Foundation property, an archaeological team first investigated the site. Their goal was to verify 18th-century maps and period documents that referenced the construction of barracks in 1776 and 1777. Their efforts paid off, revealing a nearly four-acre site filled with artifacts linked to the barracks and everyday soldier life.
“Archaeological evidence of continental barracks in Virginia is rare,” the foundation explained in a recent blog post. “This site, which was occupied from 1777 to 1781, is particularly valuable since it was built and used only for one purpose. In addition, a significant portion of the site has been largely undisturbed since the barracks were destroyed.”
### Uncovering a Glimpse into Revolutionary Soldier Life
Although archaeologists have only excavated a small portion of the area, the construction plans for the sports center have been adjusted to allow future exploration. So far, the team has uncovered bricks and an intact chimney base, gun hardware, lead musket shot imprinted with toothmarks, high-end ceramics, and personal items likely belonging to officers.
Jack Gary, executive director of archaeology for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, shared with Fox News Digital, “In August 1776, just a month after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Commonwealth of Virginia ordered the construction of these barracks.”
Originally designed to house 1,000 soldiers, the barracks eventually accommodated up to 2,000 soldiers and 100 horses. However, their existence was short-lived. Gary noted that a soldier’s report describes the barracks being burned by British troops as they moved toward Yorktown in 1781.
“After Cornwallis’s troops moved through, they could see the barracks on fire in the distance. For us as archaeologists, this is a burning event — a catastrophic event — but it can also lend itself to really good preservation,” Gary explained.
### Unexpected Finds: Lead Musket Shot with Toothmarks
One of the most intriguing discoveries at the site is the abundance of lead shot marked with tooth imprints. According to the foundation’s blog, bored soldiers chewed on these musket shots to pass the time, drawn by the lead’s surprisingly sweet taste.
As excavation continues, experts are hopeful that further exploration of the barracks will reveal even more about the daily life and conditions faced by Continental Army soldiers in the late 1770s.
This remarkable find not only enriches our understanding of Revolutionary War history but also preserves an important piece of America’s past right beneath Colonial Williamsburg’s grounds.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a69236115/revolutionary-war-barracks-remnants-discovery/
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