Jamestown Church Discovery Among Magazine's Top 10 for 2010

By WYDaily Staff Saturday, January 01, 2011

Archaeology Magazine has named the 1608 church found at Jamestown one of the ten most significant archaeological discoveries of 2010. Discovered by a team of Historic Jamestowne archaeologists, led by Dr. William M. Kelso, director of archaeological research and interpretation for Preservation Virginia, the church discovery confirms how significant the Church of England was in the lives of the new world colonists.

Archaeologists were searching for the remains of a men’s barracks at Jamestown when the team discovered five deep postholes spaced 12 feet apart. The perimeter created an area that matched historical records that identified a 60-foot-long wooden church.

Further excavations at the church site led to the discovery of the chancel in front of which, in all likelihood, Pocahontas was married to John Rolfe in 1614. The team also located four graves in the chancel, traditionally the place reserved for the burials of high status individuals.

Research about the 1608 church reveals that besides being used for religious services, the building served as the place where, on occasion, governors and other officials would address the settlers.

“We are honored to be included among such noteworthy archaeological sites all over the world,” said Jim Horn, Colonial Williamsburg’s vice president of research and historical interpretation and the Abby and George O’Neill Director of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, which oversees research and programming at Historic Jamestowne. “We are eager to restart work in the spring and to continue archaeological exploration of the 1608 church and the rest of the Jamestown site.”

Other sites on the list include the tomb of Hecatomnus in Milas, Turkey; Paleolithic tools in Plakias, Crete; early pyramids in Jaen, Peru; HMS Investigator off the coast of Banks Island, Canada; and more. Archaeology Magazine is written for travelers and tourists, and focuses on the science and art of archaeology.