Owl Bones

Life in early Jamestown wasn’t always a hoot for the colonists, but it was for the owls! Archaeological excavations have unearthed several bones belonging to two species of owl — the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) and the barred owl (Strix varia). Both of these owls are part of the family Strigidae, also known as the “true owl” family, and still live in Virginia today. Species in the family Strigidae have bigger heads, shorter tails, and are generally larger than the barn and bay owls of the family Tytonidae.

Though there are no mentions of owls specifically in the colonists’ early narratives, owls were prominent symbols in early 17^th century England. Sometimes they were interpreted as negative omens, associated with death and darkness. In William Shakespeare’s Richard III, which was first published about 10 years prior to the founding of Jamestown, the titular character speaks, “Out on ye Owls! Nothing but songs of death.” However, their association with the Greek goddess Athena is the origin of owl’s connection with wisdom, and it was known that owls also served a practical purpose, helping to control rodent populations that would otherwise destroy crops and food stores. Owls were also used on heraldry, evidenced by the city of Leeds in West Yorkshire adopting the owl as part of their coat of arms in the 1660s.

Archaeologically, only owl leg bones, phalanges, and a partial pelvic bone have been uncovered at Jamestown, all from pit features dating between 1607 and 1610. Whether or not these remains are associated with diet is unknown. Even though the bones are from Starving Time-era features, there are no butchery marks present. Given the range of animals consumed at this time, it is possible that the colonists ate owls, though more owl remains need to be found to confirm this.

Owls are unique, carnivorous hunters, surveying from high perches until they sense prey and dive, catching animals including rabbits, rodents, frogs, smaller birds, and fish. Using their especially sharp talons and beak, owls can kill their prey before swallowing them whole. Owls then regurgitate the parts of their prey that are not digestible, including bones, scales, and fur in the form of owl pellets. These pellets can be dissected to identify an owl’s meal, and are commonly used in K-12 science classes – maybe you’ve dissected an owl pellet before! Today, in addition to great horned owls and barred owls, eastern screech owls (Megascops asio), barn owls (Tyto alba), snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus), northern saw-whet owls (Aegolius acadicus), and short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) can also be seen in Virginia.