Because all of the above-ground evidence for the Madison-era floor was wiped out by the duPont renovations, how President Madison might have floored the cellar of his ca. 1797 addition was a mystery at the start of the Restoration.  However, archaeologists at Montpelier knew that traces of the floor could have potentially survived under the ca. 1901 concrete.  Their hopes were based on the fact that concrete slabs often serve as protective caps that can effectively preserve any below grade archaeological evidence.  Because this archaeological evidence could potentially help with the restoration of the cellar, it was decided to undertake an archaeological investigation of the space.