|
A devastating hurricane struck
Jamestown
Island
in September of 2003. downing
hundreds of trees and destroying
the handsome
Visitors
Center.
Ironically the original 104
English settlers in 1607might
have shrugged off Isabel as yet
another storm. They already had
been forced to endure several
major storms at sea and then on
land - drought, failing crops,
Indian raids and the
ever-present danger of a Spanish
invasion.
But like those original
settlers, Historic
Jamestowne
Island has persevered, starting
construction on a new visitors
center and a new Archaearium
(exhibit halls combined with a
live archeology site). It will
display 1,000 of the most
exciting discoveries chosen from
750,000 artifacts uncovered to
date.
A storm of change swept over the
island in 1993. For more than
200 years history books have
reported that the original James
Fort built by the first settlers
have been swallowed completely
by the rising James River. But a
team of APVA Preservation
Virginia archeologists led by
William Kelso was suspicious of
that story. During some of
their excavations, they began to
uncover dark indications in the
dirt of wooden wooden posts that
had been driven into the ground.
A triangular pattern of posts
emerged (the corner wall of a
fort. James Fort? ) Later
excavations have confirmed that
the original fort had been
discovered and to date the
diggings have uncovered
everything ranging from weapons
to pottery shards and articles
of toiletry used by the first
English residents (e.g., a
silver ear pick and nail
cleaner!). Today a third fort
has been excavated and a number
of skeletal remains found.
Be sure to visit the new
Archaeareium, an
interactive archeology museum.
It really brings to life the
treasures that have been found
recently.
The discoveries are
now casting fresh doubt on
another story in the history
books, that the first settlers
were lazy and incompetent and
may have brought much of the
early miseries on themselves
because of their lack of farming
and survival skills. Now
evidence indicates that the
island was in the midst of a
prolonged severe drought that
may have destroyed many of the
food crops. Articles that have
been uncovered have proved they
were able to manufacture answers
to many of their daily needs.
Now “footprints” of two very
long buildings have been
discovered that indicate
something like London-row houses
may have been built in early
Jamestown.
These were constructed over
holes in the ground that were
believed to be the first
shelters of the arriving
settlers. Artifacts recovered
from the row houses show the
houses were once stocked with
fancy dishes and glassware for
entertaining. Every new
discovery, often puzzling, helps
rewrite the history of early
Jamestown.
Almost every weekday
you can watch APVA archeologists
and volunteers continuing to dig
out more artifacts. Go before 4
P.M. and try to avoid rainy days
when they stop work and cover
the digging area with tarps. Log
on to
www.historicjamestown for
the latest news.
Ask at the temporary Visitors
Center
about tours (always more
frequent in summer months than
they are in off season months).
Some of the tours of the island
are led by a costumed
interpreter who takes the role
of one of the early settlers. He
may tell you about his squabbles
with Captain John Smith or some
of his days longing for
England. Learn a
few 17th-century words, and
you'll be able to banter with
your colonially-attired
interpreter on one of the
walking tours. Try dropping a
"Heaven forfend," "Shodikans,"
or "Fie on it," in your
conversation. Substitute 'nay"
or "aye" for "no" or "yes."
Use "a" in place of "to," as in
"go a town." Or try "me" to
replace "I' as in "me feels" and
"me thinks." You'll have a
wonderful time.
Walk through one of the first
churches built in America. One
portion is the remaining church
tower built in 1637, just 30
years after the first Englishmen
had arrived. Right behind the
church is a famous statue of
Pocahontas who – according to
the famous legend – saved
Captain John Smith from being
killed by the people of her
tribe. Many people like to pose
for pictures holding one of her
outstretched hands, now
well-worn from thousands of
handshakes.
Before leaving make a stop at
glassblowers hut (follow the
signs near the entrance gate).
You can get some good pictures
of them blowing into a tube
covered with a glob of red-hot
molten glass, creating a
beautiful green vase or other
artistic glassware that you can
buy at the little gift shop.
Remember when you leave
Historic Jamestowne that you’re
within a mile of another “must
see” sight, Jamestown
Settlement. Bear to the left and
in a minute or so you’re in the
parking lot. (See the Jamestown
Settlement chapter in this
book). You are also close to
the free ferry that regularly
crosses the James River to Surry
and other historic sites such as
Bacon’s Castle.
Admission: $8 per adult over 16
(good for 7 days). Children
under 16 are free – as are
seniors with Golden Age
passports. The gate opens at
8:30 A.M. and closes at 4:30
P.M.
You can stay until dusk.
Directions:
From 199 exit on route 5 and
head south. Turn left when you
see Jamestown Settlement and
continue on that road to reach
Historic Jamestowne. If you’re
at the Colonial
Williamsburg
Visitors
Center,
get on the
Colonial Parkway.
Turn right on to the parkway and
you go to Historic Jamestowne.
Turn left on the parkway and you
will go the other way to
Yorktown.
Follow the signs.
|