International Archaeology Day - Public Dig at Timberneck

Not only is October Virginia Archaeology Month, but October 18th is International Archaeology Day (IAD)! So celebrate International Archaeology Day & Virginia Archaeology Month with us at Timberneck!

Constructed in the 1790s, Timberneck is a significant plantation house situated within Machicomoco State Park along Timberneck Creek and the York River. The property remained in the hands of one family for over two centuries, until the early 2000s, and preserves an extraordinary record of Virginia’s past. The history of the site extends well beyond the house itself, encompassing the lives of Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free African Americans, tenant farmers, and generations of families who shaped and cared for the land.

Archaeological investigations are currently focused around the 1930s kitchen, where artifacts—including fragments of 19th-century ceramics, glass, and domestic materials—offer insight into the daily experiences of those who lived and worked at Timberneck. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe and engage with archaeologists as they uncover and interpret these finds, gaining a deeper appreciation for the process of uncovering and preserving the past.

In addition to the excavation, Machicomoco State Park will host a complementary archaeology program from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For additional details about the park’s programming, please contact them directly by phone or email.

You may also like the following events from The Fairfield Foundation:

• This Friday, 17th October, 10:00 am, Homeschool Dig Day in Hayes
• This Friday, 17th October, 10:00 am, Fairfield Fridays in Hayes
• Next Tuesday, 21st October, 06:00 pm, Lab Night: The Empire Washes Artifacts in Gloucester