The Division of State Archaeology covers a wide range of services including archaeological collections management and curation, terrestrial and submerged (underwater) archaeological investigations and consultation, public outreach, grant support, assistance for various DHR programs, site recordation, and assistance to members of the public with identifying sites and helping them be good stewards of Virginia’s historic resources. Read on to learn more about some highlights from the past year.

By Dr. Elizabeth Moore | DHR Director of State Archaeology

The Buried Cause

We are very pleased to share that the book entitled, The Buried Cause: Unearthing Hidden History in the Lee Monument Cornerstone, edited by Katherine Ridgway (DHR), Elizabeth Moore (DHR), and Christina Vida (The Valentine Museum), has been completed and will be released by UVA Press in January 2026. This edited volume grew out of the archaeological and conservation work with the two boxes and their contents, which were recovered under the Lee Monument in Richmond in 2021. Public demand for information about the contents of the boxes led to a series of digital essays published on DHR’s website. The essays were written by DHR staff and other experts, and those essays have been rewritten for the book, which can be preordered through UVA Press at The Buried Cause - UVA Press. Check out a few reviews of the new book below!

“This ingenious book teaches us about not only the monument to Robert E. Lee but also about the history of Richmond, the Confederacy, Virginia, and the South. Each essay is deeply researched and effectively presented, and the expertise of the authors is impressive, though lightly worn.”—Ed Ayers, president emeritus of the University of Richmond and Bancroft Prize-winning author of American Visions: The United States, 1800-1860

“Few Confederate monuments are as well-known as the Lee Monument in Richmond, Virginia. Yet the full story of its history remained hidden until 2021 when it was removed and the copper box containing a time capsule of artifacts was recovered from its cornerstone. Through a series of several short essays, The Buried Cause uses that discovery to expand what we know about the Lee Monument, the historical context of Richmond and Monument Avenue, women's role in its creation, as well as the response of Richmond's Black community. Ultimately, the volume constitutes an innovative study of material culture found within the monument's cornerstone and what those artifacts tell us about Confederate memorialization and the Lost Cause.”—Karen L. Cox, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, author of No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice

Archaeology Outreach and Technical Support

October is Virginia Archaeology Month and DHR partners with other state agencies, non-profits, museums, professional organizations, and historic sites to highlight archaeology. Each year, DHR produces a poster—often in partnership with another organization—and offers a calendar of archaeology events on our website. Current and previous archaeology month posters can be downloaded from the DHR website here.

A shortened list of DHR’s outreach events this year included:

• A presentation on the Lee Monument at Richmond Public Libraries given by Katherine Ridgway, DHR State Archaeological Conservator
• Multiple tours of the DHR conservation lab and collections work space for school groups and professionals hosted by DHR’s Allison Mueller, Serena Soterakopoulos, and Katherine Ridgway
• DHR’s Eastern Region Archaeologist Mike Clem’s presentation on Eastern Shore archaeology to faculty and teams at the Broadwater School in Northampton County
• An archaeology activity and information table at the Clermont Farm Annual Native Plant Sale and Farm Fest hosted by Elizabeth Moore and DHR Intern Carter Hutchinson. DHR maintains ownership of Clermont Farm, located in Berryville, and works in close partnership with The Clermont Foundation to steward the property.
• DHR staff participation in the Conrad M. Hall Symposium for Virginia History
• A presentation to the Portsmouth Daughters of the American Revolution by Mike Clem
• An information session and pedestrian survey in association with the UVA research center in Oyster, Virginia, conducted by Mike Clem
• First Lego League (FLL) teams – Brendan Burke, DHR State Underwater Archaeologist, and Elizabeth Moore spoke with over a dozen teams for this year’s challenge, the theme for which is archaeology. The teams were required to speak to an archaeologist, identify a challenge in archaeology, and engineer a solution for the event.
• DHR staff including Elizabeth Moore, Mike Clem, Jolene Smith, Sean Tenant, and Kathy O’Shea assisted Data Investigations, LLC, and tribal members with excavations at the Pamunkey Indian Reservation. The excavations are being supported with a 2025 Threatened Sites grant to the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.

Archaeological Collections Update

Work has begun on a collections expansion construction project in our Richmond offices. This project will allow DHR to increase the volume of collections that we store and curate. Our existing curation storage space is full, but archaeological work that generates important collections continues across the Commonwealth. In addition, we are becoming increasingly aware of orphaned collections—which are collections that are not in a repository but are temporarily stored at universities, consultant offices, agency storage facilities, etc.—that are in need of appropriate care and management. While under construction, the repository and collections work room have been closed, and collections at DHR will not be accessible to researchers or volunteers. These collections often contain hundreds of boxes of artifacts. We anticipate the construction to be completed in January of 2026.

Staffing Updates

Earlier this year, Tom Klatka retired after 35 years of serving as DHR’s Western Regional Office Archaeologist. Tom is greatly missed by many in the regional communities and DHR staff. We are currently in the process of filling that position, but until it is filled, if you need assistance in the Western Region, please contact either Elizabeth Moore, Bob Jolley, or Mike Clem.

Serena Soterakopoulos was hired as the full-time Collections Manager. In addition to traditional collections manager responsibilities, Serena will be providing critical assistance to DHR’s NAGPRA compliance efforts.

The Division of State Archaeology is fortunate to have two interns this fall: Connor Hutchinson and Taylor Jarvis.