Archaeologists dig historic Dumfries ahead of Route 1 widening

DUMFRIES — Mayor Derrick Wood took a tour of the archaeological dig in Dumfries ordered by Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Wood said VDOT ordered the dig to uncover any historical value in the town before proceeding with their major road project along Route 1.

The dig, performed by the third-party company, Commonwealth Heritage Group, is taking place along Route 1 and Main Street in the town of Dumfries.

Wood said artifacts discovered from the dig might need to be registered with the historical registry or might warrant some historical markers.

Wood toured the dig site with the principal investigator, Dr. Cynthia Goode. He says the dig is scheduled to conclude by October 30 and archaeologists have been onsite the last 2-3 weeks.

Wood said just this week archaeologists recovered the foundation of an old merchant house. He said the dig had discovered artifacts dating back to the 18th century.

During his tour of the dig site, Wood said a ring with a cross on it was discovered. “This shows the religious values of the community,” he said.

Wood said the historical artifacts will be analyzed, cataloged and dated and he hopes donated back to the town. He has not received a definitive answer on whether the town will receive back the artifacts. Wood said this dig will not affect local taxpayers. VDOT has ordered the dig and will absorb the cost.

“They know it’s a lot of history. We were once a major port. We rivaled Boston and Philadelphia. Dumfries was the place to go. The tobacco, the trading that we did here, the stuff we harvested here. There is great historical value here and that story hasn’t been told,” says Wood.

Wood said it’s important to perform due diligence before the road project comes through, “to preserve the history in Dumfries and not to bury it.”

The dig comes as transportation officials are set to spend $57 million to begin the process of relocating utility lines and buying property ahead of the widening and relocation of Route 1.

Southbound traffic will be shifted from Main Street over to a widened Frayley Boulevard when construction begins in 2023.