Beneath William & Mary’s Robert M. Gates Hall, archaeologists this summer uncovered a remarkable find: the near-complete 18th-century foundation of the Williamsburg Bray School. The Bray School, one of the oldest known institutions in North America dedicated to the education of enslaved and free Black children, operated on the site from 1760 to 1765. Its foundations were thought to be only partially intact.Researchers also discovered a previously undocumented cellar, layered with centuries of artifacts. The discoveries provide a new portal into the site’s past, providing a more complete story of the Williamsburg Bray School, its scholars and their impact. Read the article: https://news.wm.edu/2025/06/17/digging-backwards-through-history-lights-the-way-forward/?utm_source=wmdigest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsLearn more about the William & Mary Bray School Lab: https://www.wm.edu/sites/brayschool/Learn more about William & Mary's Center for Archaeological Research: https://www.wm.edu/sites/wmcar/MB011HY7INSZIZ9 ... ... ... William & Mary is a premier public research university, widely recognized for our outstanding academic reputation, beautiful campus and vibrant community. We produce experienced, engaged and successful graduates who lead lives of impact.Learn more at https://www.wm.edu Take a virtual campus tour, here: https://www.wm.edu/admission/virtualtour#WilliamandMary