Excavate: Early October Excavation Expedition-Cooking and Archaeology

During the fall of the 2025 Expedition season, we will be working at the 18th-century Blacksmith shop adjacent to the Temple, where metal detector surveys located the main forge area for the large blacksmith shop that provided much of the plantation income during the Revolutionary War period. At the end of the week, participants will work with Chef Jerome Bias and learn open hearth cooking concepts. The week will conclude with the hearth cooked meal in the South Yard. DUring the week, participants will learn how archaeology has informed our knowledge of how enslaved families cooked for themselves and the Madisons.

Come join us in utilizing archaeology to explore the concepts of Liberty and Legacy at one of America’s most significant historic sites: James Madison’s Montpelier. Search for clues from the past, excavating side by side with Montpelier’s archaeologists, as we conduct excavations in our efforts to memorialize and understand those who built Montpelier, and learn about the contributions of all those who called Montpelier home. Get behind-the-scenes specialty tours with Montpelier’s experts, and be among the first to conduct lab analysis at the Archaeology Department’s new lab facility Community Archaeology Lab at Montpelier (CALM).

Week Long Excavations

The Archaeology Excavation Expedition is Montpelier’s most popular week-long participatory program. This is a week-long, hands-on educational experience in which you will work side-by-side with professional archaeologists on actual archaeological research sites on the Montpelier property.  Learn the techniques and processes of archaeology while contributing to the discovery and preservation of history. In addition to the field experience, you will spend a day with the Archaeology Lab, where you will be introduced to the post-excavation analysis of archaeological materials that you excavated from the dig site. While digging through Madison-era deposits, you will experience the excitement of uncovering artifacts and features that have been buried for more than two centuries!

Early October Excavation Expedition

Join us for this excavation expedition as summer begins to turn to fall.  On the final two days we will host descendants at the excavation site. At the end of the week, we will be joined by Jerome Bias who will be teaching participants on hearth cooking traditions at Montpelier.

Costs and Deposit

Cost: $950.00 for the week

Deposit: $300.00

We have payment options– a non-refundable deposit is all you need to reserve your space on one of our programs!

Note: We have scholarships for members of the Montpelier Descendants Committee. Please email dig@montpelier.org for more information.

Other Upcoming Programs

Learn more about our other programs.

If you have any questions, please email: Dig@montpelier.org