Archaeologists have uncovered the near-complete 18th-century foundation and a previously undocumented cellar of the historic Williamsburg Bray School beneath William & Mary’s Robert M. Gates Hall.

The discovery sheds new light on one of the earliest known schools in North America dedicated to educating enslaved and free Black children. The Bray School operated on the site from 1760 to 1765. Until now, researchers believed its foundations were only partially intact.

“The discovery of this cellar is thrilling,” said William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe. “The roots of our city and university entwine here. Every layer of history that it reveals gives us new insights into our early republic, from the Williamsburg Bray School through the generations that followed, up through the early 20th century.”

The find was made this spring by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation archaeologists during preliminary work for the Gates Hall renovation project. Since then, William & Mary’s Center for Archaeological Research has expanded the excavation and recovered artifacts under the leadership of Elizabeth J. Monroe and David Lewes.

The cellar measures about 36 by 18 feet, with two distinct floor levels.

 “It looks like the cellar was a partial cellar, and had different floor levels potentially,” said Center project archaeologist Tom Higgins. “It’s not a brick-lined cellar – it was probably dug soon after the foundations were laid.”

Artifacts uncovered so far include colonoware pottery, slate pencil fragments, buttons, jewelry and decorative items spanning from the 18th century to the early 20th century. Some pieces, such as ceramics and glass linked to Brown Hall dormitory residents in the 1920s, illustrate the site’s continuous use.

A favorite find among the team is a glass shard depicting Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts.

Plans are underway to incorporate the discoveries into a permanent exhibit inside Gates Hall. The exhibit will be co-curated with the Williamsburg Bray School descendant community and other partners.

Other artifacts will be displayed at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Campbell Archaeology Center, set to open in 2026.

The Gates Hall renovation, supported by a $30 million gift from an anonymous alumna, will house the Global Research