Martin's Hundred Site H


Jamestown 2007

map of site H

The Site H occupation is represented by a single dwelling enclosed by a fence/palisade and its associated flankers. Located on a bluff overlooking the James River, part of the site was situated in a plowed field with a small section extending into an unplowed area adjacent to a nearby ravine. The site was first occupied in 1619 and abandoned in the spring of 1622. Originally found by Kelso's 1971 survey, the site was excavated in the late 1970's. This small complex is temporally associated with Site C.

The dwelling measured 12' by 28' and was located within an enclosed area that contained two flankers and three gates. The structure used the same post in the ground construction technique, with slots suggesting an interrupted sill. The timber framed postholes were filled with daub, with at least one post being burned in place. The dwelling was a typical hall and parlor house with two 10' bays. Two small posts within the service may represent a hood covering an open hearth. The walls were wattle and daub and no window glass was found on the site, suggesting the use of wooden shutters to protect the settlers from bad weather (Luccketti 1981).

Five pits were found outside the palisaded area. One pit contained the remains of an adult female. Several graves were found including one that contained the remains of four Europeans. Both males and females were found on the site, with some being buried clothed, a very atypical practice. The body in the pit is also without precedent in Virginia. The female was also clothed and is thought to have crawled into the pit where she died of exposure (Noël Hume 1991). Regardless of the exact details of this female's death, all of the bodies were interpreted as either plague victims or as casualties of the 1622 uprising.

Site H was interpreted as a suburb of Wolstenholme Town. A heavy concentration of lead shot and waste suggests that shot was being manufactured on this site. Also found was a high percentage of locally manufactured ceramics.

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