Jamestown: The Starving Time

The Starving Time at Jamestown during the winter of 1609-10

beginning after the departure of Captain John Smith.

During that time, 

the people of Jamestown was forced to eat rats and snakes

because they could not venture outside of the fort's walls

for fear of being attacked by Powhatan's tribes.

There were written accounts 

that indicated the settlers had resorted to cannibalism

but no concrete evidence had ever been found.

Until Jane.

Jane was a 14 year old girl
who died during the Starving Time.
Above is a rendering of her likeness based on her skull.

Also based on her skull

(a copy seen above)

were the indications of tool marks

(in red)

which proved that 

those at Jamestown

had no choice but to cannibalize 

the dead to survive.

During a trip to the Smithsonian,

I showed the Brat Child the exhibit

and explained it all.

Later that summer while vacationing, 

I asked the Brat Child if he would like to go to Jamestown.

His reply:

"Do they still EAT people??!"

Jamestown: Indian Attack

In 1607, 

it was reported that someone was killed

during an attack by Powhatan's tribe.

His grave was found during the archaeological dig.

The arrow point was resting next to his leg

and would have been lodged into the surrounding tissue

during burial.

He had a broken collarbone

and his grave was hastily dug

and most likely one of the first

if not the first death.

Because the skeleton also provided evidence

of a broken abcessed tooth,

it's unknown if the arrow or infection or

a combination of the two 

were the cause of death.

This is a likeness.

He was estimated to be 14-15 years old.

Jamestown: The Bones

Meet Captain Bartholomew Gosnold.

Or, more specifically, 

his skeleton

or what the Smithsonian strongly believes

is his skeleton.

Here is a likeness of the Captain.

His remains were found during the 

archeological dig at Jamestown.

Captain Gosnold was said to be one of the biggest influences

in England's colonization of America.

He explored New England and is said to have named

Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard

(I read somewhere he had a daughter named Martha 

and named Martha's Vineyard for her).

Sadly, Gosnold died only 3 months after landing at Jamestown

after succumbing to a 3 week illness.

Jamestown: A Brief Overview

Couple of savages sitting under the Pocahontas statue

 Jamestown, VA was the first permanent English settlements in the Americas.
In December of 1606, 104 settlers sailed from London
to find a water route to the Orient, settle Virginia and find gold.
From the moment they stepped off the shipped,
the settlers came under attack by the Algonquin Indians in the area.
The Algonquins were a constant on-again-off-again enemy.

Pocahontas daughter of Chief Powhatan

Captain John Smith was able to set up trade with the Algonquins

but with Smith's departure back to England,

the period known as "The Starving Time" came about.

Many people died from starvation and disease 

and there was a period of warfare between the colonists and the natives.

Eventually more colonists arrived at Jamestown

under a second charter by the king (James I)

that allowed for stronger leadership.

Settlers attempted several different types of industries

before John Rolfe introduced tobacco farming

which proved to be profitable.

John Rolfe ended up marrying Pocahontas, the chief's daughter. 
I've made many trips to Jamestown,
and I highly recommend a visit if you're in the area.
(photos with the exception of the one at the top of the page were taken with 
and IR filter- yes, I was looking for ghosts.)