Field school students and staff trowel a test unit at the North Field site.
While earlier excavations focused primarily on James Fort itself, the past few years have seen archaeologists move outside of the initial fortification into the surrounding area. Field schools from the past three years have worked on a 1608 outwork of James Fort, a late 17th-century borrow pit, a ca. 1617 well, and a ca. 1610-1640 burial ground. Expanding the extent of our excavations allows us to explore a wider context of Jamestown’s history, ranging anywhere from the colonial era, Revolutionary War, Civil War, and beyond. There are three potential sites that Jamestown Rediscovery will investigate during the 2025 Summer Field School. They are our Archaearium site, artillery barracks, and a brick-lined cellar.
The excavations in front of the Archaearium
Excavations in front of our archaeological museum, the Archaearium, has focused on finding the bounds of a surrounding burial ground (c.1610-1640) which contains at least 100 individuals. So far the burials have been found to continue south into Smithfield, a low-lying field subject to flooding during high tides. Part of our research includes discerning how inundation affects these individuals. Excavations have also found material relating to the ca. 1665 Statehouse, built on top of the burial ground. While more tests must be done to find the entirety of the cemetery, there also appears to be a structure related to the Statehouse along with a potential midden (trash pit) from the same time period. During this year’s Field School, we will continue opening test units at the Archaearium, exposing more of the historic foundation and discerning the bounds of the midden.
Field school students and staff work together excavating and cleaning test units.
A series of ground penetrating radar surveys across the property have identified multiple points of interest that the team would like to investigate. In a low-lying area dubbed Smithfield, multiple small, square structures were detected. These buildings are on a Civil War era map, described as artillery barracks for the Confederate Fort Pocahontas. After Confederate forces fled the island in 1862 and the Union moved in, Jamestown became a haven for enslaved individuals escaping to freedom. The artillery barracks were repurposed to house these individuals, whose names we are gathering from various documents. Time is of the essence for these excavations. Their location within a low elevation field means they are subject to flooding during high tides, and will be completely submerged within the next 25 years. If weather permits, this will be one of the focus areas during Field School.
A field school student talks to visitors about the Archaearium site.
Another ground penetrating radar survey near Jamestown’s church discovered a brick cellar for a previously unknown building. The team intends to open up excavation units to investigate the cellar and find out more about the overlying structure. The artifacts within the cellar, both in occupation layers and trash layers, will give insight into the date of the structure, its purpose, and its owner. This will supplement ongoing research into the land grants at Jamestown. Previous excavations also uncovered three burials just northwest of the cellar. Located too far away to be a part of the churchyard, further excavation will tell us how, or if, the burials are tied to the structure. Investigating this structure and the surrounding area is a priority for Field School.
We are all very excited about these research avenues and hope that you will join us this summer!
