Current Excavations

During the work week, visitors can come to Montpelier and see archaeology in action. Archaeologists are generally at the site Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome on site throughout the day to observe the archaeologists in the process of excavation, and are also encouraged to ask questions, and see the artifacts that are being recovered from the site. During field schools, such as the JMU field school and the SUNY Potsdam field school, site tours are given by students who will explain the current interpretations of the archaeological evidence, the nature of archaeological excavation and interpretation, and the type and nature of the artifacts recovered.

Montpelier guides at the Visitor Center can tell visitors where the archaeologists are digging on any given day.

Current Excavations

During the summer of 2007, archaeologists will be focusing on the front yard of the mansion. In Madison's day, the area of the Visitor Center was likely a work area that contained barns and outbuildings.

In the fall, we hope to be starting digging in the area of the Madison midden, or dump area, for evidence of plates and other domestic artifacts.