Archaeologist Philip Levy of the University of South Florida said artifacts found in the last three years at the site near Fredericksburg indicated the farm was where Washington grew up, The New York Times said Thursday.

"What we see at this site is the best available window into the setting that nurtured the father of our country," Levy said.

Archaeologists and historians involved in the historical search are both hopeful the site will offer insights into the first president of the United States as current historical knowledge of his youth is scant.

The Times said Washington's family moved to the site, now called Ferry Farm, when he was only 6 years old and lived there until his early 20s.

The official discovery of Washington's home at the National Historic Landmark site marked the end of a lengthy search for the late president's former home that included three likely sites, the newspaper said.