Dig Updates

September 2023

The bottom of the ca. 1617 Governor’s Well has been reached, and while fighting a constant battle against water, the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists have excavated a […]

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Archaeologists Anna Shackelford, Natalie Reid, and David Givens at the Governor's Well.

August 2023

August was one of our busiest months this summer. The archaeology and laboratory teams both have several exciting projects in process, and the teams are working […]

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2023 week 1 Kids Camp attendees and archaeology staff

July 2023

Jamestown Rediscovery was happy to have the summer’s first Kids Camp attendees excavating the clay borrow pit this month. The campers were a huge help in […]

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Archaeologists and Field School students digging at the clay borrow pit excavations.

June 2023

The 2023 Field School is in full swing and the students and Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists are digging in four key areas north of James Fort. Close […]

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May 2023 Dig Update

May 2023

The 2023 Archaeological Field School is about to begin and these students will be excavating areas of great importance to the understanding of the 1608 “flag” […]

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Staff Archaeologist Natalie Reid explains the excavations of the 1608 ditch and 1610s well during an archaeology tour.

April 2023

Archaeology is advancing our understanding of a ditch thought to date to 1608 as excavations on a segment of it near completion. A few feet to […]

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The King's Colours, the Tercentennial Monument, and the newly-rebuilt palisade wall.

March 2023

Shovels, pickaxes, and trowels are hard at work all over Jamestown. Work continues on an early 17th-century well found just outside James Fort’s north bulwark. Across […]

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Staff Archaeologist Caitlin Delmas and Archaeological Field Technician Hannah use a transit to document the excavations outside the Jamestown Rediscovery Center.

February 2023

Just to the north of James Fort the archaeological team has exposed the entire breadth of an early 17th-century well and its builder’s trench. Meanwhile over […]

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Excavating a 17th-century well found in the Confederate moat

January 2023

All efforts in the field are focused on a brick-lined well just to the northwest of James Fort’s north bulwark. Found unexpectedly while following the trail […]

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A heavily-used hone (whetstone)

December 2022

Archaeologists are conducting ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys just south of the Jamestown Rediscovery Center prior to the installation of the Ellen Kelso Memorial Garden. They hope […]

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Site Supervisor Anna Shackelford takes record shots of the "burial" site north of the Church Tower

November 2022

As colder weather rolls in several of the dig sites are being backfilled, preserving the archaeological resources now that their excavations are complete. Before the dirt […]

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The archaeological team at work in the burial excavation structure.

October 2022

In the southwest corner of James Fort, in a structure resembling a greenhouse, the lights were on well past sunset several nights this month. Inside, the […]

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