Archaeology Programs

ABOUT OUR EXPEDITIONS

Our public programs are divided into four categories: Excavate, Locate, Analyze, and Reconstruct. Click on the categories below to learn more!

SIGN UP FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGY NEWSLETTER

Sign up to receive a monthly newsletter from the Montpelier Archaeology Staff, updates about our program offerings, and our Digging Deeper emails with more in-depth research updates.

Excavate: Archaeology Expedition

Next Session: The 2024 season starts in early April!

Duration: One Week

Spend a week with our crew digging in units and learning the field techniques that help us to reveal the stories that Montpelier has to offer.

Locate: Archaeology Site Location Programs

Next Session: Dates for our next Metal Detecting Expedition have not yet been set.

Learn how we use metal detecting and other survey methods to discover new archaeology sites. No prior experience is necessary, you just need a interest in learning our process.

Analyze: Lab Expedition

Next Session: Our next Lab expedition is in March 2024, come join us for the analysis of three seasons of artifacts from the Overseers House!

Work side-by-side with professional archaeologists to catalog, analyze, and mend artifacts recovered from ongoing excavations on the Montpelier property.

Reconstruct: Architecture, Gardening, and Cooking Programs

Next Session: The 2024 Season begins with our March Building Documentation Program

Learn about the range of hands-on cooking, preservation, and reconstruction activities you can take part in.

Field School & Paid Internships

Applications for the 2024 Field School will be due by MARCH 1, including 2 COMPLETED REFERENCES.

Volunteers

Learn how to volunteer in the Archaeology Lab at James Madison's Montpelier.