Archaeologists Unearth Madison's Chess Pawns
Two pawns from a chess set at James Madison's country estate were unearthed. Montpelier officials think the pieces are likely from the same set that Madison and Thomas Jefferson used in their frequent matches.
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RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne.
When he wasn't writing the Constitution or framing the Bill of Rights, James Madison enjoyed a good game of chess. An archaeologist at Madison's estate in Virginia has unearthed two pawns from his chess set. They believe the pieces are from the set Madison used when he played Thomas Jefferson. The third and fourth presidents, both known for their brilliance, were said to have played epic matches - matches that sometimes lasted for hours.
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