VA250 Dig: Space & the Revolution: Evening Dig & Stargazing

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Rachel Alwine, Fairfield Foundation

A photo taken at nighttime at the Rosewell Ruins, showing the stars above the remains of what once was one of the biggest homes in colonial Virginia.

The Fairfield Foundation will host “Evening Dig & Stargazing: Space and Archaeology,” a free public program at the Rosewell Ruins on Saturday, August 15, from 5:00 to 10:00PM, in collaboration with the Virginia Air and Space Science Center in Hampton. The event connects archaeology and astronomy during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, encouraging visitors to take part in archaeological excavations before settling in under the night sky.

Visitors are invited to observe and take part in ongoing excavations at the Rosewell Ruins as archaeologists dig until the site loses daylight. During the excavations, archaeologists will also demonstrate drone work and explain how we use cardinal directions to ensure that our excavations that parallels to colonial techniques.

Once the digging concludes, the program shifts skyward: the Virginia Air and Space Science Center will lead stargazing activities. With the telescope, the night sky will show several astronomical objects. Without the telescopes, visitors can view the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most active meteor showers of the year.

The evening will also include short presentations on colonial-era astronomy, highlighting Rosewell owner John Page’s lifelong interest in the stars and the astronomical papers he exchanged with his college friend and fellow Virginian Thomas Jefferson.

Meanwhile, the Fairfield Foundation will offer evening tours at the Rosewell Ruins. The program will also explore how modern archaeologists use satellite imagery and remote sensing to study historic sites like Rosewell, drawing a direct line between eighteenth-century curiosity about skies and the technology archaeologists rely on today.

Parking is available at the Visitor Center, with overflow at the Rosewell Ruins. The excavations, tours, and stargazing will be at the Rosewell Ruins. The walking distance between the Visitor Center and Ruins is a quarter of a mile (those unable to walk the distance will be allowed to drive between the two locations).

The event is part of Virginia’s broader VA250 commemorations, which seek to examine the many perspectives and experiences that shaped the American story leading up to and beyond the nation’s founding.

Rosewell is located in Gloucester, Virginia, and admission to the event is free and open to the public. All activities are family friendly.

The Fairfield Foundation's mission is to promote and involve the public in hands-on archaeology, preservation and education activities within Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and surrounding areas. We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization offering public programs, research opportunities and outreach activities since 2000. We operate five properties in Gloucester County: Fairfield Archaeology Park, Timberneck House at Machicomoco, Edge Hill Texaco (the C.A.P.E.), Rosewell Ruins and Visitor Center, and Walter Reed Birthplace.

For more information, visit Fairfield Foundation’s website or follow Fairfield Foundation on social media for event updates.

Event Information

VA250 Dig: Homecoming

Saturday, August 15, 5PM-10PM

Evening Dig: 5PM-8PM (or gets too dark)

Night Tours of Rosewell Ruins: 8PM-10PM

Stargazing with Virginia Air and Space Science Center: 8PM-10PM

Rosewell Ruins and Visitor Center

5113 Old Rosewell Lane, Gloucester, VA 23061