Jamestown find
Do you remember about two weeks ago when I posted about my visit to Jamestown
I showed some photos of an excavation going on at the time. I was excited to see them digging up a part of history.
Today this article was in our local paper. Just look what they found
By DIANE TENNANT, The Virginian-Pilot © May 9, 2007 Last updated 1:49 PM May. 9
JAMESTOWN –" A cache of armor from the early 1600s has been discovered by archaeologists excavating a trash pit inside the remains of James Fort.
Queen Elizabeth II viewed the objects during her visit Friday, observing a broadsword with a basket hilt, an iron pole, the hilt from a rapier and armor pieces that would have protected the thigh.
“It may be like the tip of an iceberg,” said William Kelso, director of archaeology for APVA Preservation Virginia, in a press release. “We’ll see as we uncover more of it in the next few days.”
The armor was partly uncovered last week, about 3 feet below what would have been ground level in the early 1600s. The pit itself is 19 feet square. Because the layers slump toward the center, archaeologists think it may have been a well that went bad, and was then used for trash.
Glass trade beads, baubles, chess pieces, iron objects and pottery shards have also been found in the pit. Indian artifacts found there include a grinding stone, a bone needle and shell beads. Animal remains include oysters, sturgeon, crab claws, fish, bird, turtle, deer and goat.
Kelso speculated that it could be the first well dug by colonist John Smith in 1608-09. Archaeologists can date it by the artifacts, which include a coin dated 1613 found near the top, and by the fact that the pit is under the foundation of a building constructed in 1617.
Furthermore, historical accounts mention that military equipment was buried in the fort in June 1610, when the colonists decided to abandon Jamestown after the “Starving Time” winter. The day after they left, they were forced to return by Lord De La Warre, whose supply fleet coming up the James River met the dispirited colonists coming down.
Archaeologists also plan to work on a site this summer that they hope contains remnants of the first church built for the colony."
I showed some photos of an excavation going on at the time. I was excited to see them digging up a part of history.
Today this article was in our local paper. Just look what they found
By DIANE TENNANT, The Virginian-Pilot © May 9, 2007 Last updated 1:49 PM May. 9
JAMESTOWN –" A cache of armor from the early 1600s has been discovered by archaeologists excavating a trash pit inside the remains of James Fort.
Queen Elizabeth II viewed the objects during her visit Friday, observing a broadsword with a basket hilt, an iron pole, the hilt from a rapier and armor pieces that would have protected the thigh.
“It may be like the tip of an iceberg,” said William Kelso, director of archaeology for APVA Preservation Virginia, in a press release. “We’ll see as we uncover more of it in the next few days.”
The armor was partly uncovered last week, about 3 feet below what would have been ground level in the early 1600s. The pit itself is 19 feet square. Because the layers slump toward the center, archaeologists think it may have been a well that went bad, and was then used for trash.
Glass trade beads, baubles, chess pieces, iron objects and pottery shards have also been found in the pit. Indian artifacts found there include a grinding stone, a bone needle and shell beads. Animal remains include oysters, sturgeon, crab claws, fish, bird, turtle, deer and goat.
Kelso speculated that it could be the first well dug by colonist John Smith in 1608-09. Archaeologists can date it by the artifacts, which include a coin dated 1613 found near the top, and by the fact that the pit is under the foundation of a building constructed in 1617.
Furthermore, historical accounts mention that military equipment was buried in the fort in June 1610, when the colonists decided to abandon Jamestown after the “Starving Time” winter. The day after they left, they were forced to return by Lord De La Warre, whose supply fleet coming up the James River met the dispirited colonists coming down.
Archaeologists also plan to work on a site this summer that they hope contains remnants of the first church built for the colony."
Labels: Around Town
posted by Patty at
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
5 Comments:
I thought you had Tea and crumps with the queen and it made the papers..lol
I've enjoyed history and I think it need that your children father can trace his family back to Jamestown.
There is yogi bear camp ground not far from me and I've drove by it and what I saw it had trees and nice grass, well taken care of.
That is awesome...I wondered at the time at the tenacity it takes to brush away all the dirt and debre to find these objects...I guess it is worth it all in the end!
Wow, I have always been fascinated by stuff like this. I think I should have become an archaeologist !!
Hope you are having ag reat week.
Take care, Meow
That's so interesting. I have always wanted to go on an achaelogical dig.
How cool is that!
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