Jamestown Rediscovery
Encyclopedia
Jamestown Rediscovery is an archaeological project of Preservation Virginia (formerly the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) investigating the remains of the original settlement at Jamestown
established in the Virginia Colony beginning on May 14, 1607. The period under study was from 1607-1698.
Preservation Virginia archaeologist Dr. William Kelso
heads the Jamestown Rediscovery team that in 1996 discovered the foundations of the 1607 James Fort, long thought to have disappeared in the waters of the James River
. http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x8591.xml.
established in the Virginia Colony at Jamestown
beginning on May 14, 1607. Upon arrival, the colonists set about constructing a fort. Within a fortnight, they had completed their initial James Fort.
In 1698, an accidental fire destroyed the statehouse at Jamestown, and the legislature and seat of government temporarily relocated to Middle Plantation
.The following year, the move became a permanent change, with that town soon renamed Williamsburg
.Soon, Jamestown began a period of rapid decline. By the 1750s, the land was owned and heavily cultivated primarily by the Travis and Ambler families. Due to its location on the James River
, the island saw some action during the American Revolutionary War
(1776-1781) and the American Civil War
(1861-1865), but otherwise, became largely desolate and unpopulated.
By the late 20th century, Preservation Virginia had been working closely with National Park Service (NPS) for many years. Preservation Virginia land and the church site were included in the NPS-operated attraction on the Island (which is currently called Historic Jamestowne
). However, the original site of James Fort had long been thought lost to the erosion of the river.
[and the] the subsequent growth and development of the town". http://www.apva.org/pubs/94reprt.html
Beginning their work in the area protected by the 1900 sea wall, the archaeologists began to explore. Early on, the project discovered early colonial artifacts. This was something of a surprise to some historians as it had been widely thought that the original site had been entirely lost due to erosion by the James River. Many others suspected that at least portions of the fort site remained.
In 1996, they successfully located the site of the original 1607 James Fort. Subsequent excavations have shown that only one corner of the first triangular fort (which contained the original settlement) turned out to have been destroyed. The sea wall built in 1900 to limit the erosion turned out to be a rich investment in the past and the future.
Since it began, the extended archaeological campaign has made many more discoveries including retrieving hundreds of thousands of artifacts, a large fraction of them from the first few years of the settlement's history. In addition, it has uncovered much of the fort, the remains of several houses and wells, a palisade wall line attached to the fort and the graves of several of the early settlers.
Visitors to the NPS Historic Jamestowne attraction can view the site of James Fort, the 17th century church tower and the site of the 17th century town, as well as tour an archaeological museum called the Archaearium and view many of the hundreds of thousands of artifacts found by Jamestown Rediscovery.
As of 2007, visitors can also often observe archaeologists from the Jamestown Rediscovery project at work, as archaeological work at the site continues and is greatly expanding knowledge of what happened at Jamestown in its earliest days.
Among the discoveries, a grave site with indications of an important figure was located. Some theorizes the remains to be that of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold
http://www.historicjamestowne.org/news/gosnold_dna_01.php though others have claimed it to be the remains of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
. It had long been thought that Baron De La Warr, who died en route back to the colony from England on his second trip, had been buried elsewhere but some recent research concluded that his body was in fact brought to Jamestown for burial. http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-news1_032206mar22,0,6921190.story?coll=va-news.
Dr. Kelso has co-written a book about the findings with Beverly A. (aka Bly) Straube, who is the Curator
for the Preservation Virginia Jamestown Rediscovery project. http://www.jamestowne-wash-nova.org/JamestownRediscovery-book.htm (see additional reading section)
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
established in the Virginia Colony beginning on May 14, 1607. The period under study was from 1607-1698.
Preservation Virginia archaeologist Dr. William Kelso
William Kelso
William M. Kelso , often referred to as Bill Kelso, is an American archaeologist specializing in Virginia's colonial period. Currently he serves as the Director of Research and Interpretation for the Preservation Virginia Jamestown Rediscovery project. Kelso earned a B.A. in History from...
heads the Jamestown Rediscovery team that in 1996 discovered the foundations of the 1607 James Fort, long thought to have disappeared in the waters of the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
. http://magazine.clas.virginia.edu/x8591.xml.
Historical significance of the site
The first permanent English settlement in the area which is now the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
established in the Virginia Colony at Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
beginning on May 14, 1607. Upon arrival, the colonists set about constructing a fort. Within a fortnight, they had completed their initial James Fort.
In 1698, an accidental fire destroyed the statehouse at Jamestown, and the legislature and seat of government temporarily relocated to Middle Plantation
Middle Plantation
Middle Plantation in the Virginia Colony, was the unincorporated town established in 1632 that became Williamsburg in 1699. It was located on high ground about half-way across the Virginia Peninsula between the James River and York River. Middle Plantation represented the first major inland...
.The following year, the move became a permanent change, with that town soon renamed Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
.Soon, Jamestown began a period of rapid decline. By the 1750s, the land was owned and heavily cultivated primarily by the Travis and Ambler families. Due to its location on the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
, the island saw some action during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
(1776-1781) and the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(1861-1865), but otherwise, became largely desolate and unpopulated.
Preservation of the site
Late in the 19th century, Jamestown became the focus of new historical interest. In 1893, the Preservation Virginia property on Jamestown Island consisting of 22 ½ acres of land, including the 1639 church tower, was donated for historic preservation by the private owners Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barney. In 1900, a sea wall was built to stabilize erosion. The area thus protected proved to be a valuable investment in the future almost a century later.By the late 20th century, Preservation Virginia had been working closely with National Park Service (NPS) for many years. Preservation Virginia land and the church site were included in the NPS-operated attraction on the Island (which is currently called Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the official name used for promotional purposes for the original site of the 1607 James Fort and the later 17th century city of Jamestown. It is located on the James River at Jamestown, Virginia and operated as a partnership between Preservation Virginia and the U.S...
). However, the original site of James Fort had long been thought lost to the erosion of the river.
Rediscovery: archaeological project beginning in 1994
In 1994, the Jamestown Rediscovery project was created by Preservation Virginia to archaeologically explore their land. The original goal of the archaeological campaign was to locate archaeological remains of "the first years of settlement at Jamestown, especially of the earliest fortified town;Beginning their work in the area protected by the 1900 sea wall, the archaeologists began to explore. Early on, the project discovered early colonial artifacts. This was something of a surprise to some historians as it had been widely thought that the original site had been entirely lost due to erosion by the James River. Many others suspected that at least portions of the fort site remained.
In 1996, they successfully located the site of the original 1607 James Fort. Subsequent excavations have shown that only one corner of the first triangular fort (which contained the original settlement) turned out to have been destroyed. The sea wall built in 1900 to limit the erosion turned out to be a rich investment in the past and the future.
Since it began, the extended archaeological campaign has made many more discoveries including retrieving hundreds of thousands of artifacts, a large fraction of them from the first few years of the settlement's history. In addition, it has uncovered much of the fort, the remains of several houses and wells, a palisade wall line attached to the fort and the graves of several of the early settlers.
Visitors to the NPS Historic Jamestowne attraction can view the site of James Fort, the 17th century church tower and the site of the 17th century town, as well as tour an archaeological museum called the Archaearium and view many of the hundreds of thousands of artifacts found by Jamestown Rediscovery.
As of 2007, visitors can also often observe archaeologists from the Jamestown Rediscovery project at work, as archaeological work at the site continues and is greatly expanding knowledge of what happened at Jamestown in its earliest days.
Among the discoveries, a grave site with indications of an important figure was located. Some theorizes the remains to be that of Captain Bartholomew Gosnold
Bartholomew Gosnold
Bartholomew Gosnold was an English lawyer, explorer, and privateer, instrumental in founding the Virginia Company of London, and Jamestown, Virginia, United States...
http://www.historicjamestowne.org/news/gosnold_dna_01.php though others have claimed it to be the remains of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr
Thomas West, 3rd and 12th Baron De La Warr was the Englishman after whom the bay, the river, and, consequently, an American Indian people and U.S. state, all later called "Delaware", were named....
. It had long been thought that Baron De La Warr, who died en route back to the colony from England on his second trip, had been buried elsewhere but some recent research concluded that his body was in fact brought to Jamestown for burial. http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-news1_032206mar22,0,6921190.story?coll=va-news.
Dr. Kelso has co-written a book about the findings with Beverly A. (aka Bly) Straube, who is the Curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
for the Preservation Virginia Jamestown Rediscovery project. http://www.jamestowne-wash-nova.org/JamestownRediscovery-book.htm (see additional reading section)
Additional reading
- Kelso, William M. and Staube, Beverly A. Jamestown Rediscovery 1994-2004, (2004), Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, ISBN 0-9175651-3-4