History Beneath Our Feet at Tavern Museum Open House April 22

On April 22 from 2-5 PM, the Tavern Museum held an open house to formally introduce three new exhibits with the overall theme, “History Beneath Our Feet”. Two exhibits, Marine Fossils and 18th Century Vessel Remains, were installed fall 2017 and a collection of prehistoric tools and weapons just opened in 2018.

The Marine Fossils Exhibit is a collection of long-time King and Queen County resident Newell Randall, supplemented by pieces from other collectors. It includes large sharks teeth and vertebra, stingray crusher and skin plates, whale vertebra, salt water alligator teeth, many found in King and Queen County. Maps indicate the eras in which the county was underwater. Mr. Randall, who has been fossil hunting since the age of 10 enthusiastically shares his fossil hunting experiences and encourages citizens to discover the world “beneath our feet.” He was on site to answer questions and help identify animal fossils and sharks’ teeth visitors may have brought. An activity that simulated a fossil hunt was also available to visitors.

The 18th Century Vessel Remains exhibit tells the story of the 2009 discovery of the remains of two 18th century North American coastal trading vessels at historic Newington Plantation on the beach of the Mattaponi River. These are the oldest vessel remains archeologically investigated to date in the waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia. They provide design and construction data and reflect the craftsmanship of skilled shipwrights of the era. Artifacts discovered provide insight into the nature of colonial life and trade on the river. The investigation and documentation were completed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR). The details of the entire investigation can be viewed on the VDHR website dhr.virginia.gov under their Archaeology Publications Research Report No. 18. The exhibit is sponsored by VDHR and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hurst, the owners of Newington Plantation.

The Early Stone Tools and Weapons, the newest exhibit, features prehistoric tools and weapons that were found in the middle peninsula and tidewater regions of Virginia. During the 20th century, three generations of the Shelor family – Fred L. Shelor, Fred L. Shelor, Jr. and Ben A Shelor – collected prehistoric artifacts. Interested in the history and environment of rural tidewater and the middle peninsula of Virginia, they developed an understanding of the land used for camps and settlements by early natives. They kept an eye out for objects on the ground that might appear natural, but were not. Projectile points, drills, scrappers, ground stones, arrowheads, bannerstones, axeheads, and more were from woods, fields, and river banks as they hunted and fished. They walked the fields when the earth was turned by farmers. Sometimes they traded with other collectors. This exhibit, sponsored by the Shelor family, represents what they found. Jen Shelor was on hand with artifacts that visitors could examine.

Docents were available throughout the Museum campus to provide visitors with tours.