Unearthing Enslaved Voices: Reexamining the Founding Era

UMD researchers and students contributed to archaeological work at James Madison's Montpelier and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, uncovering artifacts that provided insight into the lives and experiences of enslaved communities. Through discovered including a "Liberty" tobacco pipe bowl, animal fossils, and an icehouse, UMD's archeological faculty has gained a deeper understanding of the daily lives, labor, and resilience of the people who lived and worked at these historic sites. Their work demonstrates how archeology could expand our understanding of the Founding Era by bringing greater attention to histories that had often been overlooked. 

Read the full article at the Terp Magazine 

Published on Thu, 09/10/2026 - 14:20