Jamestown: The Buried Truth

by William M. Kelso

What was life really like for the band of adventurers who first set foot on the banks of the James River in 1607? Important as the accomplishments of these men and women were, the written records pertaining to them are scarce, ambiguous, and often conflicting, and those curious about the birthplace of the United States are left to turn to dramatic and often highly fictionalized reports. In Jamestown, the Buried Truth, William Kelso takes us literally to the soil where the Jamestown colony began, unearthing the James Fort and its contents to reveal fascinating evidence of the lives and deaths of the first settlers, of their endeavors and struggles, and of their relationships with the Virginia Indians. He offers up a lively but fact-based account, framed around a narrative of the archaeological team's exciting discoveries.

Once thought to have been washed away by the James River, James Fort still retains much of its structure, including palisade walls, bulwarks, interior buildings, a well, a warehouse, and several pits, and more than 500,000 objects have been cataloged, half dating to the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James. Artifacts especially reflective of life at James Fort include an ivory compass, Cabasset helmets and breastplates, glass and copper beads and ornaments, ceramics, tools, religious icons, a pewter flagon, and personal items. Dr. Kelso and his team of archaeologists have discovered the lost burial of one of Jamestown's early leaders, presumed to be Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, and the remains of several other early settlers, including a young man who died of a musket ball wound. In addition, they've uncovered and analyzed the remains of the foundations of Jamestown's massive capitol building.

Refuting the now decades-old stereotype that attributed the high mortality rate of the Jamestown settlers to their laziness and ineptitude, Jamestown, the Buried Truth produces a vivid picture of the settlement that is far more complex, incorporating the most recent archaeology to give Jamestown its rightful place in history and thus contributing to a broader understanding of the transatlantic world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Archaeology, Historical, Audiobook, 17th Century

238 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2006

About the author

an American archaeologist who directed the Jamestown Rediscovery Project, an organized effort to uncover and preserve artifacts from the Jamestown Colony, the first permanent English settlement in North America. He is currently the Emeritus Director of Archaeology and Research at the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation, having retired in 2021.

Reviews

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelso is the lead archaeologist at the Jamestown digs and shares lots of interesting, unprecedented research from his archaeological finds. The book really trudges through those finds at times, though, down to the last minute detail, so it can be slow. The most interesting chapter was on the Jamestownians themselves, as Kelso and company actually dug up dozens of 400-year-old graves to attempt to piece together more about the everyday life of the first English-Americans. In one detective-style story, he and his researchers attempted to identify the grave of one prominent Jamestownian as one of the original leaders and council members of the very first group of settlers. In a great example of comprehensive historical investigation, they combed historical documents, maps, artifacts, and even DNA evidence just to prove that this one guy was who they thought he was. Turns out everything was inconclusive--wah wah wahhhhh... but it was interesting for a history nerd.

This is another frustrating part of the book. Despite all of their groundbreaking (*rimshot) research, in my opinion, we have little new earthshattering understanding of this settlement and its people. That is, we were pretty much on the money even before the archaeological evidence--it just confirmed a lot of what was already known. Even the new ideas are largely circumstantial and merely theories. But that's the way real history works; I just wish it was more like Indiana Jones or the Da Vinci Code more often. Something like:

"It was at this point that we realized we were on to something big--not only was this the grave of John Smith and John Rolfe together, but based on the artifacts and newly interpreted documentary record, they were also clearly a romantic couple. And their adopted child? Pocahontas herself. Soon after 1608, the starry-eyed lovers and their daughter were run out of Jamestown and an extensive coverup story was instigated by the remaining inhabitants."

I, um, skipped the last chapter on uncovering the remains of royal governance in Jamestown. I was afraid I wouldn't get through it. There, I said it.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently went on a road trip to Jamestown Island and took the Archaeology tour of the original 1607 Jamestown Fort and spent time in the museum to view some of the discoveries made. I would highly recommend visiting Jamestown before reading this book. The author, William Kelso, is the chief archaeologist there and was the one who began looking for the fort in 1994 even though the consensus at the time was that it had long ago eroded away with the receding shoreline of the James River. Thanks to his persistence, it has been revealed that 90% of the original fort is on land. The site has been an active archaeological dig since 1994. Along with discussing some of the discoveries that he and his team have made, he tells the history of the fort, the lives of the settlers, and their interactions with the Native inhabitants. (Note that the book was written in 2006, so it does not include recent discoveries.)

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written by the head archaeologist of the Jamestown Resdiscovery Project, has been extremely well-researched. If you have a special interest in Jamestown, I highly recommend it. If you don't, you might find it a little dry. He did not leave one thing out, which would make it fascinating to some and sleep-inducing to others.

[Michel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Painstaking scholarly description of the most minute details of an archeological excavation.
Painfully few new historical insights, and virtually no interaction with other sources.
Definitely not the definitive book on J'town.
I guess we'll have to wait for the quincentennial?

[Elisabeth Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for older kids but since I love history and especially anything about Jamestown I read it anyway. Great read! I thought I had kept up on everything about Jamestown but there was stuff in there I didn't know.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

That literally took me forever...

[Billy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real world Indiana Jones and CSI combined. The latest diggings in Jamestown with modern techniques. Where was the fort? When was it built? How long did it last? Where were the buildings in the fort? Why were some outside the fort? Did the original adventurers follow their orders or adapt them to conditions? Whose remains in the graves? What killed them? Fascinating. A few years ago Bill Kelso came to the Richmond Forum and like a dope I gave away the tickets.
However I made up for this error of judgement on May 3, 2018. A few of my W&L friends and I went to Jamestown for a half day with my friend Willie Balderson who is one of the main interpreters there. Willie knocked the ball out of the park and gave us a total review in place of Capt. John Smith, the Indians, the starving time, the digs and the artifacts. Fantastic. And while we were looking at the collection o what has been found on site, who should walk in but William Kelso himself! A great day!

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book put together by the Head Archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project for the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in 1607. The archaeological investigation is clearly ongoing as just recently, six years after the anniversary, a discovery was announced that cannibalism took place in approximately 1610. After reading most of the book - I skimmed the last chapter which seemed to jump from findings of the early founding period to summarize several findings related to the remainder of the 17th century - I conclude this a status report of the state of the investigation and that the writer did not intend to write a definitive account of Jamestown's early period. The emphasis is clearly upon the recent archaeological recovery of the original Jamestown Fort thought at the time of the 350th anniversary to have been covered by the James River.

The chapter titles are: Reimagining Jamestown (a historical overview of early Jamestown) , Rediscovering Jamestown (locating the James Fort), Recovering Jamestownians (analysis of remains discovered and attempt to identify), Reanimating Jamestown (using found objects to describe life in early Jamestown), and Royal Jamestown (overview of history of Jamestown in remainder of 17th century to time state capital moves to Williamsburg).

Due to an interest in archaeology and history, I enjoyed large portions of the book. There are a number of pictures and illustrations and one can see how archaeology shapes our perspective of history. Unfortunately, this is not a book for the general reader, due to a lot of technical detail and the lack of ideal organization and editing. For example, the last chapter appears as an add-on which has nothing to do with the majority of the book which emphasizes the founding period of Jamestown. Another example is there is a good deal of material on the search to identify a skeleton found, describing the genealogical search for suspected relatives's graves in England the uncovering of those graves for DNA samples and even pictures of the churches where the vaults were opened up. Unfortunately, the search is a big nothing because no link was found and, in fact, it is unknown whether even the correct remains were located. On its own, the search is interesting, but it all appears to be wasted space in a book on early Jamestown and archaeological investigation there. in short, the book was probably rushed to be on shelves in time for the anniversary.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fascinating book holds enormous insight into the archaeological treasures of Jamestown. Mr. Kelso, the Head Archaeologist of the decade-plus-long Jamestown Rediscovery Project, takes the readers through a very detailed description of the findings over that time period. I was amazed at the thoroughness and breadth of the science used; everything from bone chemistry analysis to geneaology to dendrochronology to exhumation and DNA sampling of possible relatives of Jamestown settlers buried back in England was employed to decipher the archaeological puzzle.

That being said, it definitely got too detailed at times for any but the most diehard Jamestown or archaeology fans. In one way, it's amazing that the archaeological findings and conclusions from a eleven-year project can fit into 214 pages of text and pictures; on the other hand, it's so comprehensive and technically dense that there were whole paragraphs I had to re-read several times to figure out what they said. Especially toward the end, I'll admit I skimmed whole pages, rarely stopping to pick out specific facts.

Mr. Kelso walks us through the process of digging and finding artifacts, how they determined their age and origin, and how they determine the conclusions and their implications step-by-step. It's an interesting window into both the time period and the science/art of archaeology, but not a good choice if you want a quick, light read about Jamestown.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelso's "Jamestown, the Buried Truth" reads much like how a Powerpoint lecture given by him to students studying colonial history might feel. Although the language may sometimes go over the heads of those of us who aren't studying for a master's degree in the subject, the passion for the material is tangible and translates well. There is a wealth of information on the physical James Fort, its original denizens and the way archaeology can interpret the goings-on of a place occupied four centuries ago. Although the slog through scientific numbers and descriptions can sometimes feel a little tedious, the only section of text that feels unnecessary is the final chapter on the evolution of the Jamestown statehouse. (Twenty-odd pages worth of where was the building and how many rooms it had and which rooms were added when seems gratuitous when talking about a place that existed between the 1620's and 1680's -- where the rest of the book focuses on the original James Fort of 1607.)

Taking on Kelso's book means accepting that this is a text not exactly written with the layman in mind -- but it means being addressed as an insider to the archaeological world at large and it's worth it.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rather surprised I didn't become an archeologist. At the age of about ten I had already excavated an area on property on an inland marsh-surrounded island near Charleston, and I was always fascinated by digs and old found objects. I still find myself mesmerized when I visit an active dig site and can stand and watch the archeologists at work for long periods. I love hearing about what they found and what it tells them. I frequently marvel at how new techniques reveal deeper knowledge of historical events, such as firing patterns at battles. This interest was well satisfied in this report on archeological efforts to understand and correct errors about the European settlement at Fort James (Jamestown). Despite many trials both self inflicted and from without, suffering high death rates and much privatization, a hearty group nonetheless established a toe hold in the New World. I hope to visit there sometime, and will be well prepared to observe, thanks to this book.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I loved this - well-researched, pictures, compelling information, etc. The most amazing this was the recount of Kelso's DNA testing on the remains of female relatives of Jamestown leader Batholomew Gosnold. The women are buried inside various working churches in England - the fact that Kelso got permission, and managed to get DNA samples is a stunning feat of scholarship. So exciting to think of the future implications DNA testing has for historical research.

[Robert Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly well written account of the recent discoveries at Jamestown and helps fill in the gaps of what happened in the first permanent English colony in America. The archaeological exploration is recounted in a fashion that makes it extremely accessible to the casual reader. Especially fascinating was the forensic DNA search that went back to England in an attempt to confirm the identity of bodies found on the site. I look forward to following the continuing work on-line!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the premier archaeological manual for the Jamestown Colony by the premier archaeologists, Dr. Bill Kelso. It does have brief historical summaries, but that's not what this book is about. It is about the theory, turned fact, that James Fort did not wash into the James River. From there, the book details subsequent digs and finds since 1994 up until the early 2010's. The current volume does not list the more recent 2015 discoveries.

[LDuchess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved- it! Much that is written about archaeology tends to be boring, over done with numbers and long words. But Kelso's text is eminently readable, showing his love for his subject and sharing that love with his readers.

He starts at the beginning, and as the search continues, we learn about it, step by step. Having visited Jamestown years ago (before the Recovery program began), I am anxious to go again and learn more!

[Brandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about Jamestown. Obviously a lot of speculation based on what the archeologists have dug up around there. But it is interesting to speculate what life was like for the colonists and the trials they faced. Although I expected a bit more from it but oh well. It was an interesting read.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. It can be tedious at times, as the archeologist author goes into great detail about his finds, but overall it's an interesting look back on history. The book ranges from historical overview to complex detective story. It brings Jamestown to life ... the English settlers, the "divers others", native Americans, and their respective challenges and every day lives.

[John Caron · Rating 3 out of 5]

An authoritative description of the early days of Jamestown. Remarkably detailed information about the earliest settlers and their settlement. Many architectural descriptions and photographs make this the go-to book about the settlement. However, unless you are an archaeology student, it is slow reading.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to dig into the history of Jamestown, this is the book for you. I enjoyed all of the information about the early fort and the people who lived there. The last chapter, Royal Jamestown, was not as interesting.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great archaeological study of Jamestown. It's really best as part of a bigger historiography of the topic - I would recommend it along with other histories of the colony.

[Erin Estes · Rating 5 out of 5]

makes me want to go to Cape Cod and dig for Gosnold's 1602 attempt to colonize and also the James River forts also mentioned as being similar to James Fort

[Frederick Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes the discovery of the original fort at Jamestown by the archaeologist who found it. I learned about the book on a tour I took at the site.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting archaeological look at Jamestown. One of my first experiences of reading archaeology.

[Terrell Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and great insight.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read if you are interested in American archaeology and the history of the findings of the first English settlement.

[Dante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on the forensic analysis.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelso is an archaeologists archaeologist. This is a great book for archaeologists and hard-core historians of early British America. It may be tougher going for non-specialists.

[E.J. Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK of its kind, not much more.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well written book by William M. Kelso, the Head Archaeologist of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project is fascinating, yet too detailed for me. This would be an excellent book for research historians and archaeologists. The first chapter of this book contains historical facts of the early settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, which is what I was after. In his introduction, Kelso states, "The American dream was born on the banks of the James River. Lured by the promise of a better life, in 1607 a band of adventurers established the first enduring English settlement in the New World: Jamestown. By 1620--the year the Pilgrims reached Plymouth--much of the James River basin, from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to within twenty miles of the site of modern Richmond, had been settled by the English under the sponsorship of the Virginia Company." In 1607, 104 colonists arrived in Virginia from England. These original colonists included John Smith (who was later saved by Pocahontas from her father Chief Pohwatan and who served as one of the early Governors) and George Percy (stand-in Governor during the "starving time" 1609-10). These colonists established the location of Jamestown based on instructions from the Virginia Company of London. The majority of Kelso's book discusses the Jamestown Rediscovery Project in great detail, interspersed with historical information. I found it fascinating that they used a "quilt" excavation process to unearth James Fort, which means they progressed by one completed ten-foot square at a time to determine which next direction to go to uncover the triangular fort. Chapter three focuses on how science and research helped to nearly identify some of the unearthed human skeletal remains. What comes through clearly in the pages of this book is how patience to historical detail and scientific methodologies can help to bring history to life.

[Urstoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a history of Jamestown; instead, this is an account of the archaeological work Kelso and his team have done at Jamestown since the mid-90's (up to 2006, when the book was published). Some knowledge of the history of Jamestown is helpful, as Kelso only provides a bit of historical context.

Overall, the book is uneven. Some of the archaeological work is interesting, some is not (particularly the last chapter on Royal Jamestown and the various statehouses). There are long passages on the search for various fort walls and buildings, and their respective excavations. Perhaps the most interesting part is the extended attempt to confirm the identity of a Captain buried outside of the fort (atypical for early Jamestown, whose instructions were to not let any Indians see a dead white man to maintain the illusion that they were immortal); this takes them to England in search of long-buried relatives to attempt a DNA match. The search is unsuccessful, but it is compelling all the same.