William Kelso of the Jamestown Rediscovery Project Discusses New Finds at the James Fort Excavation Site

October 12, 2011

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – In the final presentation of the 2011 Jamestown Lecture Series, Dr. William Kelso, director of the Jamestown Rediscovery® Project at Historic Jamestowne, discusses the archaeological finds from the most recent field season. The one-hour lecture will be held on Tuesday, October 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

Director of Research and Interpretation William Kelso excavates a rapier hilt found in May.Kelso will highlight the season's discoveries including the complete "footprint" of the first Protestant church built in America (1608), clear evidence of how James Fort transformed into Jamestown, and the "anatomy" of a Civil War bomb shelter. He will also provide in-depth illustrated discussions of these new discoveries as well as a summary of how James Fort was initially revealed and how and what selected artifacts and eco-facts tell about both Virginia Company officials and daily life at early Jamestown.

In the fort, historic tradesmen will demonstrate their crafts, and visitors can learn about the amazing artifacts found at the fort that were used by the coopers. Children can join in the fun around the island with an archaeological dig box activity, crafts, period games and toy shallop (sailboat) races.

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased by calling 1-800-HISTORY or at the museum store on the day of the lecture.

The lecture series is sponsored in part by The Edward Maria Wingfield Endowment Fund, established by The Wingfield Family Society to honor Wingfield as soldier, investor, and Jamestown's first president.

Historic Jamestowne is jointly administered by the National Park Service and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (on behalf of Preservation Virginia) and preserves the original site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World.