Archaeology and the construction of America's Jamestown

Abstract

In consideration of the 2007 anniversary of the 1607 establishment of Jamestown, England's first permanent settlement in North America, the history of archaeological research on the site is reviewed and the use of archaeology in the symbolic construction of Jamestown as 'America's Birthplace' discussed. It is argued that the archaeological construction of Jamestown as an American icon ultimately constrains understanding of the site in terms of its broader Atlantic world context, obscuring the motivations, experiences and expectations of the Europeans who made their way to Virginia, and rendering the considerable native presence invisible. Findings from the most recent projects on the Island, placed in the context of past investigations, allow for an evaluation of the significance of Jamestown's archaeology in the 21st century.