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18th Century Artifacts Found on Hampton Road Project

William and Mary Center for Archeological Research

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Officials uncovered thousands of artifacts dating back to the 18th century while preparing for a construction project in Hampton Roads.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said in a video posted this week that roughly 20,000 items nearly 300 years old were found during preparation for the Interstate 64/Interstate 264 interchange project.

The items include pipes, pots, buttons and bowls. Part of one broken punchbowl says: "Success to all English privateers."

Local news media outlets report that a team from the College of William & Mary Center for Archaeological Research Center worked for months at the site.

Transportation officials tell media outlets that the items will go back to the land owner, Coastal Virginia Church.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.