Description

This natural slate coaster bearing the Jamestown Rediscovery logo brings a bit of nature into your home and protects your furniture from dreaded water rings. Soft feet on its reverse side means it also protects your surfaces from scratches.

Slate is also relevant to James Fort for another reason: the mysterious Slate tablet found in a c. 1608-1610 well that was dug by the order of Captain John Smith. The slate tablet has layer upon layer of markings and drawings, from text to depictions of people.

Jamestown Rediscovery was founded in 1994.  Since then, our archaeologists have uncovered the location of the 1607 James Fort, as well as over 3 million artifacts.

In 1608 Captain John Smith prepared two hand-drawn maps of James Fort and eastern Virginia to send back to England. While both maps are now lost, one drawing known as the Zúñiga map still survives.

Pedro de Zúñiga was the Spanish ambassador stationed in London. He obtained a copy of Smith’s map and smuggled it to King Philip III to inform him of English progress in colonizing North America.

This image of James Fort as depicted on the Zúñiga map is used as the logo for the Jamestown Rediscovery project.

Click here to learn more about the Zúñiga map of James Fort.