One person's trash is another person's treasure at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, where abandoned wells became trash pits. Shown here are trade beads and other odds and ends found in what archaeologists think might be Jamestown's first well. Photograph © Paula Neely and Preservation Virginia.

I last visited the historic site of Jamestown, located near Williamsburg, Virginia in 2007 to celebrate its 400th annivesary. Excitement filled the air at that time since wonderful artifacts, including pistols and swords, were pouring out of the excavations. One particularly promising excavation was a trash-filled hole archaeologists hoped might be the first well dug by colonists at Jamestown. The artifacts from that hole turned out to be a few years too young for it to be the first well. After the anniversary things quieted down. But now, thanks to the passion of Director of Archaeology Bill Kelso and Curator Bly Straube, things are revving up again. The team at Jamestown has discovered another deposit of trash that might well be John Smith's first well. This first well had a profound impact on the health and fate of the colonists. If archaeologists have found this first well, it could also have a profound impact on our understanding of Jamestown's first years. This update is from guest blogger Paula Neely of Mechanicsville, Virginia. Paula has closely followed developments at Jamestown for many years.—Chris Sloan

Archaeologists cannot yet say whether or not this dog jaw, found in the upper layers of what may be Jamestown's first well, is the remains of a meal. Photograph © Paula Neely and Preservation Virginia.

Jamestown Well May Unravel Mysteries of Starving Time

Submitted by Paula Neely

Archaeologists at Jamestown, Virginia, are excavating what may be the first well at James Fort dug by John Smith in early 1609. If so, it could contain clues about the “starving time” winter of 1609-1610 when the fort was under siege and only about 60 of 200 people survived.

According to colonists’ accounts, water in the well became brackish within a year, and some experts think salt water poisoning and foul water may have been a major cause of death in addition to starvation, disease, civil unrest and battles with Indians.

Dr. William Kelso, director of archaeology for Historic Jamestowne, said finding Smith’s well “will give us a chance to really look at the health issue and figure out what spoiled the water.”

They may also find leather, wood, and paper artifacts preserved by the well environment that are rarely found at archaeological sites. Other organic matter may provide new information about the environment in the early 1600s.

Although they haven’t reached the well shaft, yet, it appears to be in the center of a 14 x 14 ft. pit and is at least 9 ft. deep based on a probe and could be as deep as 15 ft. Archaeologists have dug down 5 feet, so far.

Located next to the site of the first store house near the center of the fort, it’s closer to the river and is probably older than a well in use after 1611 inside the north corner of the fort that was excavated a few years ago. Kelso said the colonists would have dug the second well as far from the river as possible.

After wells became foul, they were used as trash pits, and this one is loaded with artifacts from the early fort period.

(Right) A pelican of piety medallion was found in recent excavations. Photograph © Paula Neely and Preservation Virginia.

Curator Bly Straube said they’re finding horse teeth and dog bones that may be from the starving time when colonists ate their horses and dogs to survive.  They’ve also found sturgeon remains, turtle and oyster shells, Indian pots, shell buttons, trade beads, mirror glass, early pipes, crucibles, medicinal jars, Bartman jugs, coin weights, and military items.

In addition, they’ve unearthed the first pelican of piety medallion discovered at Jamestown. Embossed with the image of a pelican piercing its breast to feed its young, it may have been used on a horse harness or bridle. The symbol was used by the Church of England and appeared on coats of arms.

It’s very promising, but they won’t know if it’s Smith’s well until they get to the bottom and date objects that fell into the well when it was in use. That will take several more months.

For more information, visit www.apva.org.

For great background on Jamestown and the Powhatan, including a flyover of Jamestown and Werowocomo, click here.

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