Bridger Exhumation

In January of 2007, the remains of Colonel Joseph Bridger, one of the wealthiest men in Colonial Virginia, were exhumed from the chancel of Historic St. Luke's Church by famed forensic anthropologist, Douglas Owsley. Dr. Owsley and his team from the Smithsonian Institution participated in the long process to exhume and study the remains for the exhibit "Written in Bone: Life and Death in Colonial Chesapeake" which will at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC in 2009. The event was filmed by The History Channel for viewing in 2008. Col. Bridger's remains, originally buried in 1686 on his plantation a few miles from the old church, will be re-interred in Historic St. Luke's at a later time.

left to right: Brittany Tatchell, Kari Bruwelheid, Charlotte Klamer, Rev. Gary Barker, Alain Outlaw, Merry Outlaw, Jean Tomes, Dr. Doug Owsley, Chip Clark.

Gerald Johnson, Professor Emeritus of The College of William and Mary, and Archaeologist, Alain Outlaw, of Archaeological and Cultural Solutions,Inc., diligently working inside the structure built surrounding the crypt.		Alain Outlaw peering into Colonel Joseph Bridger's tomb.
Archaeological Intern at the National Museum of Natural History, Brittany Tatchell, braved the cramped spaces to retrieve the bones.		Forensic Anthropologist of the Smithsonian Institution, Dr. Douglas Owsley and his assistant Kari Bruwelheid study the site.
		In January of 2007, the remains of Colonel Joseph Bridger, one of the wealthiest men in Colonial Virginia, were exhumed from the chancel of Historic St. Luke's Church by famed forensic anthropologist, Douglas Owsley. Dr. Owsley and his team from the Smithsonian Institution participated in the long process to exhume and study the remains for the exhibit "Written in Bone: Life and Death in Colonial Chesapeake" which will at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC in 2009. The event was filmed by The History Channel for viewing in 2008. Col. Bridger's remains, originally buried in 1686 on his plantation a few miles from the old church, will be re-interred in Historic St. Luke's at a later time. left to right: Brittany Tatchell, Kari Bruwelheid, Charlotte Klamer, Rev. Gary Barker, Alain Outlaw, Merry Outlaw, Jean Tomes, Dr. Doug Owsley, Chip Clark.