Discovering what Counts in Archaeology and Reconstruction: Lessons from Colonial Williamsburg

The evolution of historical archaeology as an innovative way of knowing about the past parallels the history of its practice at Colonial Williamsburg. This restored eighteenth-century capital of Virginia epitomizes the challenges and the promises of mingling archaeology with reconstruction, including the ‘brick and mortar,’ the environmental, and the digital, to underpin and guide historical interpretations. How can lessons learned from over 80 years of archaeological and architectural research at Colonial Williamsburg help the future of historical archaeology? What are some of the abiding factors in archaeology that continue to drive its relevancy in restoration and historical interpretation? The papers in this session address past and current diverse-research initiatives and speak to both the esoteric questions ‘that count’ in archaeology and reconstruction and the day-to-day practicality of interpreting history to the public.