Rediscovering Jamestown: A Virtual Trip to James Fort
January 20
Students will see the site of the original fort of Jamestown (1607-1630) which was once thought lost. Archaeologists began to rediscover the site in 1994, and have recovered more than 3.5 million artifacts, sites of buildings, and forensic evidence of some of the first English colonists. These discoveries have also uncovered truths about colonial Virginia and its diverse peoples that were long ignored in textbooks.
Meet Our Presenter
Mark Summers is the public historian for the Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeology Project in Jamestown, Virginia. As a historian, Summers writes exhibit scripts, publications, leads public tours, and writes and conducts all field trips at Jamestown. He connects recent archaeology discoveries to the historical documents left behind by the original colonists and Native American oral tradition to tell a more complete story of the 17th century.
Classroom Resources and Activities
A. Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeology YouTube Channel
JamestownRediscovery – YouTube
Explore YouTube channels for videos on the archaeology and history of Jamestown presented by the Jamestown expert staff.
B. Then and Now: Daily Life in James Fort
Then and Now: Daily Life in James Fort
Students compare and contrast primary sources with archaeological evidence. Uses the Digital reDiscovery virtual tour resources.
C. Map of Discoveries
Map of Discoveries | Historic Jamestowne
Explore this interactive map to learn more about the excavation of James Fort and some of the most significant finds made over the past 25 years.
D. The King’s Instructions: Working With Primary Documents
The King’s Instructions: Working With Primary Documents – Grade: 3rd-5th Subjects: History, Virginia Studies, English
Students compare and contrast early historical documents with archaeological evidence to gain an understanding of events at Jamestown.
E. Legacy Wall
Legacy of Jamestown Interactive
Explore the legacies of Jamestown and their impact on America. History consists of the stories of people and events connected over space and time. In 1606, the region that would come to be known as Jamestown was inhabited by an eastern woodland tribe—the Powhatan Indians. In 1607, the English arrived and established the first permanent English settlement in North America. The legacy of Jamestown continues in our lives today.
