PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY @ URBANNA OYSTER FESTIVAL

OVERVIEW

No experience necessary! Every year, the Fairfield Foundation of Gloucester, Virginia hosts archaeology open to the public during the Urbanna Oyster Festival. This year, the digging will be in the backyard of the Gressitt House (c. 1740) searching for foundations of outbuildings, or structures that could predate the house!

Urbanna was founded in 1680 on the southern side of the Rappahannock River near the Chesapeake Bay, as one of the first port towns in Virginia. You will be taught by me and/or fellow archaeologists of the Fairfield Foundation how to dig, screen, trowel, and identify layers and features in the soil. Again, no experience necessary, just like most things it’s easy to learn if you have a good teacher (I’m a good teacher). There are actually so many artifacts from the 17th-20th century, and possible even Native artifacts at this site, that we will end up keeping everything left in the screens after dirt is sifted through! This is a great opportunity to try archaeology, and also try a lot of different types of oysters🦪🦪🦪

Bring lunch

$30 for food/oysters (optional, but encouraged)

Pair of working gloves

Water