Dig Updates

Staff Archaeologist Natalie Reid explains the Archaearium excavations to some visitors. Archaeological Field Technicians Eleanor Robb and Hannah Barch are at work behind her.

November 2024

Our archaeological excavations are focused on an area just south of the Archaearium. Work there began during the Field School and Kids Camps in the summer […]

Read more
The archaeologists prepare for excavations in the 1607 burial ground.

October 2024

The Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists have successfully excavated the remains of four colonists, three from the 1607 burial ground and one from Smithfield, the field northwest of […]

Read more
The Jamestown Rediscovery team prepares the area of the 1607 burial ground where this year's burial excavations will take place. The three dark rectangles are the top of the grave shafts. The brick scatter at center may be a robbed hearth from a later building. The brick and cobblestone feature at left is a chimney base for a fort-period building that paralleled the west palisade wall and was approximately 92 feet long.

September 2024

The Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists are busily preparing for excavations of burials at both the 1607 burial ground and at Smithfield just south of the Archaearium. The […]

Read more
A 360 degree photo of the excavations in the north field

August 2024

In the field north of James Fort, Archaeological Field Technician Ren Willis is finishing up excavations on one of a series of subfloor pits spread across […]

Read more
Staff Archaeologist Natalie Reid leads a tour of Jamestown on the first day of Kids Camp.

July 2024

Jamestown Rediscovery was excited to host both sessions of their Archaeological Kids Camp this month! Kids Camp Coordinator Natalie Reid and the archaeology team led the […]

Read more
Vibracoring in the Pitch and Tar Swamp

June 2024

From vibracoring to ground-penetrating radar, from Bacon’s Castle to St. Mary’s City, this year’s field school students have spent June learning a multi-disciplinary approach to archaeology […]

Read more
Field school students and staff conduct archaeological excavations in front of the Archaearium museum.

May 2024

This year’s Archaeological Field School has begun and it’s “all hands on deck” just in front of the Archaearium. Seven 10-foot by 10-foot squares have been […]

Read more
The archaeological team does the final excavations of the 1617 church foundations prior to the installation of the glass portal.

April 2024

The 2024 field school is fast approaching and the team is readying their plans for the students’ arrival. The students will be excavating in four main […]

Read more
Staff Archaeologists Natalie Reid and Gabriel Brown returning from their GPR survey across the James River.

March 2024

Jamestown was abuzz with investigations of the electromagnetic kind in March, both on ground and on water. While ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a normal part of […]

Read more
A window lead with a date of 1671 found during the Church Tower excavations.

February 2024

The Jamestown Rediscovery archaeology team is finishing excavations inside the 1680s Church Tower in preparation for a glass floor installation that will allow visitors to view […]

Read more
Lowering the steel roof infrastructure into the Church Tower

January 2024

A team of Jamestown Rediscovery archaeologists is excavating the 1680s Church Tower, the last above-ground structure that still exists from the 17th century. Led by Staff […]

Read more
A selection of artifacts found in the excavations adjacent to the ticketing tent

December 2023

Director of Archaeology David Givens and Director of Collections and Conservation Michael Lavin traveled to the University of Connecticut this month. The purpose of the trip […]

Read more