Poplar Forest Archaeology

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Forest, VA
Poplar Forest Archaeology

Archaeological research at Thomas Jefferson's retreat home.

06/12/2026

Our field school week one blog is live! You can view it at poplar forest.org or on our Linktree. Check out what Abran (student) and Emma (intern) have to say about their experience at Poplar Forest!

06/10/2026

Join us THIS SATURDAY for public archaeology day! You can learn to dig, screen, and wash artifacts from the Poplar Forest archaeology team and our field school students. If you’ve always dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, this event is for YOU!!! Included with general admission to the property.

06/07/2026

While we're always sad to see one of our field techs leave, we couldn't be happier for Emily Yılmaz as she goes to get her master's degree in classical archaeology from the University of Colorado Boulder. Emily was a graduate of our 2024 field school and has been with our team for nearly two years. She has been a dedicated worker, quick learner, and patient teacher. We are sure she'll be successful anywhere she goes.

Thank you, Emily!

06/06/2026

One week of field school down, five more to go! This week, our 11 students learned about stratigraphy, excavation techniques, and the history of Poplar Forest. They are always excited to learn... even if they're a *little* sore from digging through Virginia red clay for the first time. Stay tuned for more updates!

📸1) The field school students learn about the history and recent excavation of the 1857 Slave Dwelling 2) Removing topsoil from the quarter site 3) Kate and her find of the day - pearlware! 4) Tour de units 5) Alison and Dana excavating 6) Three metal buttons from one layer at the Quarter Site

06/05/2026

Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the archaeology department staff! Laura Paisley is our new Assistant Archaeologist. She has experience from both cultural resource management and historical sites, as well as a masters degree in historical archaeology from University of Massachusetts - Boston. Laura is already settling in and helping with our field school of 11 archaeology students.

"I'm excited to be a part of the Virginia archaeology community and enter in a research-based position here at Poplar Forest."

Welcome, Laura!

06/01/2026

Field school 2026 has arrived! Today was a great first day full of first experiences for many of our students. After a lecture in the morning, the team headed out to the Quarter Site to remove topsoil on new units. We can’t wait to see how the next six weeks shape up!

05/31/2026

Did you ever play tea party as a child?☕️🫖

Pieces of toy tea sets have been found across the property from Jefferson’s Wing of Offices to the 1857 Slave Dwelling. While we find many ceramics from several time periods, these miniatures are a staff favorite and serve as a reminder that people of all ages - both free and enslaved - lived here at Poplar Forest.

05/28/2026

Poplar Forest Archaeology welcomes our summer intern, Emma!!

Emma will be assisting with the field school in historic archaeology, helping our field techs, and learning from our staff. She graduated from VCU this spring with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Emma completed a previous field school at Germana and says she is looking forward to gaining experience and learning as much as she can this summer.

05/18/2026

It's almost time for field school!!!

Our field school in historic archaeology starts June 1st, two weeks from today. But no matter what field school you're attending, there are some essentials you should have!

Clothing:
It's best to wear light, breathable clothing that you don't mind getting stained. It's smart to wear long pants, especially if you're working in areas with woods or tall grass. Ticks are no joke! Hiking or work boots are the best option for footwear. You'll also need some durable gloves for screening and digging. A hat and sunglasses are always a good ideas, as well.

Supplies:
It's nice to keep a notebook and pencil nearby to take notes as you're learning new concepts. Bring sunscreen and bug spray whether you think you'll need them or not. And finally, it's a great idea to have a big water bottle as well as snacks, band-aids, and electrolyte packets in case you need them.

Archaeologists, what do you wish you had brought to your field school?

05/06/2026

Have you seen us in Lynchburg Living? Central Virginia’s premiere lifestyle magazine features our archaeology department in the most recent issue. Author Ashleigh Meyer examines previous excavations which uncovered Jefferson’s landscape and made way for restoration efforts across the property. We highly recommend you read it!

Address

687 Poplar Forest Drive
Forest, VA
24551

Website

https://www.poplarforest.org/learn/archaeology-and-landscape-restoration/, https://linktr.ee/pfarchaeology

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