Dovetail Cultural Resource Group

07/01/2025

After more than a year of making history together, we’re officially closing the chapter on the Dovetail page to continue our journey under the Mead & Hunt name.

While this page will no longer be active, our story is still unfolding. For the latest updates, stories, and cultural resource news, please follow us at Mead & Hunt.

Thank you for being part of our incredible community. We hope you’ll continue with us on this next chapter.

06/30/2025

After more than a decade of uncovering history, we’re celebrating the artifacts (and memories) that made our journey so special. From 18th-century tavern plates and mysterious brass arrowheads to 20th-century cannery buildings and hidden icehouse foundations, each discovery has helped us tell the stories of the Mid-Atlantic’s rich past.

As we turn the page and continue our work under the Mead & Hunt name, we’re reflecting on the fragments, the friendships, and the fun that have shaped our Dovetail story.

Read the blog here: https://dovetailcrg.com/featured-fragment-favorites

06/13/2025

Congrats to Dovetail Historian Dr. Cameron Boutin!

We’re thrilled to share that Cam’s article, “Picks and Shovels Before Rifles and Bayonets: The U.S. Army’s Impressment of Black Kentuckians,” will be published in next month’s issue of the Journal of Military History.

His research shines a light on the often-overlooked role of African Americans in Kentucky during the Civil War—many of whom were coerced into labor for the U.S. Army long before they were recognized as soldiers or even as free people.

By uncovering and sharing the stories of those who were forced into service, Cam is helping to tell a more complete—and more honest—story of the war and the thousands of Black Kentuckians whose contributions and sacrifices have gone largely unrecognized.

📸 Image courtesy of the US National Archives: U.S. Colored Troops at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, during the Civil War.

06/04/2025

A recent study commissioned by the City of Richmond uncovered more than 700 potential unmarked graves beneath a city-owned lot in Manchester, many believed to be Confederate soldiers and private citizens buried during the Civil War. The site, now a parking area at 2313 Wise Street, was once likely used as a municipal cemetery before Maury Cemetery was established in 1874.

This isn’t the first time burials have been found beneath paved surfaces, and it won’t be the last. As cities grow and change, stories long buried are brought to light—reminding us how important it is to consider what lies below before we build above.

At Dovetail/Mead & Hunt, we work with cities and agencies to ensure sites like this are identified, studied, and respected before construction moves forward. Because when we preserve the past, we honor the people who lived—and died—before us.

Richmond officials have identified more than 700 potential, unmarked graves beneath a city-owned property in Manchester, with many of the interments believed to be Confederate soldiers — and …

05/30/2025

In 2013, archaeologists uncovered a white, salt-glazed mustard pot from the 18th century at a site in New Castle County, Delaware. Small, lidded, and once used to serve mustard at the table, this pot holds a story that goes far beyond the dinner plate.

Mustard wasn’t just a flavorful addition to meals—it was also a go-to remedy for everything from colds to digestive issues. Brought to Delaware via 18th-century trade routes from Philadelphia, mustard became a common staple in households across the region—including in what was likely a set of slave quarters, where this rare pot was found.

At Dovetail/Mead & Hunt, we’re always amazed by how everyday objects—like a mustard pot—can open windows into the past. So next time you reach for the mustard, take a second to reflect on its surprisingly rich history.

Explore the meticulous journey of an artifact from discovery to preservation. Learn about the processes in an archaeological lab, including sorting, washing, cataloging, and long-term curation, that ensure the respectful handling and preservation of cultural materials.

05/27/2025

The City of Fredericksburg, Virginia Government and Virginia Department of Transportation are moving forward with plans for the Dixon Park Connector, a new multimodal trail designed to link downtown with Dixon Park and expand safe biking and walking routes across the city.

As part of the early planning phase, Dovetail/Mead & Hunt is working with the City and VDOT to ensure that the trail respects and preserves Fredericksburg’s cultural heritage. In partnership with SEARCH, we’ve recorded over 50 historic buildings and conducted archaeological surveys to help identify significant resources along the proposed route.

These cultural studies are just one piece of the ongoing work to ensure that the final design honors both the city’s future and its rich history.

A Community Site Visit is scheduled for Thursday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m. at the end of Caroline Street. Come learn more about the project and how you can be part of the conversation.

The City of Fredericksburg announces plans for the Dixon Park Connector, a new multimodal project designed to enhance the City’s trail network and promote safer, more connected options for walking and biking.

05/23/2025

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, blankets will be spread, baskets unpacked, and lemonade poured. But did you know that the humble picnic has roots in French aristocracy—and it all started indoors?

What began as an elite, potluck-style dinner party eventually found its way outdoors, thanks to shifting social trends, revolutionary upheaval, and a little help from the 19th-century middle class. Over the centuries, the picnic evolved from formal feasts and salon chatter to fried chicken on a blanket and Ratty’s over-the-top spread in The Wind in the Willows.

Today, the picnic is less about etiquette and more about connection. It’s a celebration of food, friends, and open skies—something we can all appreciate this long weekend.

So here’s to the long history of the picnic, and to making a little history of your own this Memorial Day.

Read more: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/historians-cookbook/history-picnic

05/20/2025

Big news for preservation in Richmond!

Tonight at 6 p.m., the Richmond Planning Commission will vote on the city’s first-ever Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan—a major milestone in a two-year effort to create a citywide vision for protecting Richmond’s historic places, stories, and spaces.

The plan outlines strategies for identifying and honoring buildings, landscapes, archaeological sites, and even oral histories—because preservation isn't just about bricks and mortar; it’s about people and place.

Kudos to the City of Richmond and all the project partners for their vision and commitment to cultural stewardship. This is an important step toward ensuring Richmond’s diverse heritage is respected and thoughtfully integrated into future growth.

Tune in or attend tonight’s meeting at 6 p.m. to learn more or show your support!

The Planning Commission is scheduled to vote today on a resolution to adopt the 200-page document, which would be Richmond’s first citywide guide for preserving its cultural resources - including buildings and other assets.

05/16/2025

Archaeology is full of surprises—but nothing quite prepared us for the phone call we received back in 2015.

While crews were preparing the site for Fredericksburg’s Riverfront Park, human remains were unexpectedly uncovered during earth-moving work. Kerri Barile Tambs from Dovetail/Mead & Hunt was on site within hours, and what followed was a powerful discovery: the remains of three Union soldiers, buried during the Civil War when the area served as a field hospital.

It took ten years—through careful archaeology, research, and collaboration—for these men to be respectfully reinterred in Fredericksburg National Cemetery.

We’re incredibly honored to have worked alongside the National Park Service, the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia Government, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources to ensure that their service and sacrifice were not forgotten.

Their story is now part of the land—and part of the park.

05/14/2025

One of the things we admire most about our parent company, Mead & Hunt, is their deep commitment to public service. They recently sponsored an entire week dedicated to giving back to nonprofits across the country—and we were proud to take part!

Dovetail’s contribution was a supply drop to the hardworking team at the SPCA of Fredericksburg, an incredible organization that cares for and finds loving homes for local cats and dogs. Along with much-needed items for the animals, we also brought donuts for the amazing staff who care for them day in and day out.

Huge thanks to the SPCA for everything they do—and to Mead & Hunt for leading the charge in this meaningful week of giving!