Brent Fortenberry, one of the archaeologists on the Verdmont dig examines the cave they recently discovered below the outhouse, also dating back to the 1700s Photo Glenn Tucker

Layers: Summer student, Zoe Brady (left) and Dr. Cathy Draycott remove layers of dirt from the new archaeological dig at Verdmont Museum. There are about 15 staff and volunteers working on the dig which they hope will reveal more about the people who lived and worked on the property in the early 1700s Photo Glenn Tucker

Archaeologists have spent the past week digging deep to find missing pieces in Bermuda’s history.

Bermudian archaeology students and volunteers have been working since last Saturday on a dig organised by Bermuda National Trust’s Archaeology Committee.

The dig has taken place at various spots around the Island in past years, including Old State’s House in St. George’s, however, this time it is taking place in Smith’s Parish, at the Verdmont house and museum.

One of the “great things” about this year’s project is that most of those working are “born and bred Bermudians” explained chairman of the Archaeology Committee Richard Lowry.

Mr. Lowry explained that the dig is “utilising local talent”, as most of the 15 team members are Bermudians, including Dr. Cathie Draycott from the University of Oxford, Andrew Bayley of BUEI and archaeological students Kerrie Underwood and Zoe Brady.

The only exceptions are students Brent Fortenberry and Travis Parno from the University of Bristol.

The dig will be taking place up to the beginning of July and aims, among other things, to reveal the secrets from the everyday lives of past Bermudians, including those of servants and slaves.

Archaeology student Brent said: “One of the ways we can glimpse of historic life in Bermuda is to examine the remains of everyday items that were lost or discarded.

“Archaeology can uncover and then piece together these artefacts to tell the story of those who don’t have their portrait hanging in the Museum, including people working as slaves and servants.”

So far, the group has been trying to investigate an outhouse and find a missing range of buildings on the eastern side of the property.

Mr. Lowry said: “We have a number of interesting finds that will improve our hypothesis. We have a theory that there is a third range of buildings there and the evidence is suggesting that that is the case.”

In addition they have found various artefacts such as animal bones, which explain what the people ate, and early pottery pieces, believed to be from the late 1700s, the period the house was lived in.

While the journey has just begun for these archaeologists, so far they have been successful explained Mr. Lowry.

“It has been fairly promising, the first two areas that we have looked into have certainly found interesting features,” he said.

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