Monticello is located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, which has a four-season humid subtropical climate with all months being well-watered, though the period from May to September is the wettest. Winters are somewhat cool but mild, and Summers are hot and humid. The site was excavated using test units of equal sizes to keep the sampling strategy consistent. Each test unit was excavated stratigraphically using shovels and hand trowels. Stratigraphic layers were differentiated by soil color and texture. All of the sediment removed from the test units was sifted through a screen, and all artifacts were collected and labeled according to unit and layer. Summertime temperatures are high in the region, with indoor temperatures of around 100 °F. Jefferson himself is known to have been interested in ancient temperature-control techniques such as ground-cooled air and heated floors. Monticello's large central hall and aligned windows were designed to allow a cooling air-current to pass through the house.
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