Archaeologists believe they have found a Revolutionary War barracks in Virginia

This image from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation shows a lead musket ball that was unearthed by archaeologists in the summer of 2023 at Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum in Virginia. The ball was found at the site of what was believed to have been a military barracks during the American Revolution. The museum announced the discovery of the site on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Brendan Sostak/Colonial Williamsburg Foundation via AP) ©The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Archaeologists in Virginia have unearthed what is believed to be the remains of a Revolutionary War military barracks, including chimney bricks and musket balls indented with soldiers’ teeth.

The site is on the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum that tells the story of the capital of the British colony of Virginia in the 18th century.

Maps and documents from the era point to a barracks built between 1776 and 1777 for the Continental Army in the battle against the British, the museum said in a statement this week. The structure was designed to accommodate up to 2,000 soldiers and 100 horses.

The American Revolution started in 1775. The barracks are said to have been destroyed in 1781 by troops of the army of British general Lord Charles Cornwallis. His forces were headed to the crucial Battle of Yorktown, where the British suffered heavy losses and surrendered. The war officially ended in 1783.

Archaeological evidence of continental barracks in Virginia is rare, according to Colonial Williamsburg. This site is particularly valuable because it was used exclusively as a barracks. Furthermore, a significant portion of the country has remained largely undisturbed.

The site was discovered during an archaeological dig required prior to the construction of a proposed regional sports complex. The planned footprint has since shifted to preserve the approximately 1.2 to 1.6 hectare barracks site.

An initial dig last summer uncovered chimney bases and uncovered a military buckle and lead shot for muskets. Soldiers chewed the balls for their sweet taste.

Only a small percentage of the site has been excavated. The museum tells the story of Colonial Williamsburg through interpreters and more than 400 restored or reconstructed buildings. It plans to use the site to tell the story of Williamsburg’s military involvement in the American Revolution and the daily lives of soldiers.

The Associated Press