You cannot collect Jamestown's coins and tokens unless you visit the place. I have been several times before, but after having read the annual archeological reports from 1994 to 2010, I had to go back. I had the fort plan lodged in my brain: pits, trenches, buildings and wells. I re-read William Kelso's stimulating book: Jamestown: The Buried Truth over the holidays. I also re-read Ivor Noel Hume's masterpiece: The Virginia Adventure (written before the fort was discovered, yet remarkably detailed and accurate). I recommend both books; both are required reading for the JT necromancer.
So there I was, freezing with teeth chattering, standing where Captain John Smith once stood some 400 years ago. No one else was there -- too cold, and too early (it was 9AM).I joined the APVA, as I knew I would be back several times in the summer. You can get a reduced admission rate if you join. Plus, you can get a JT coffee mug for 10% -- I could have used some hot coffee!
Of course, there were no archeologists digging around. I suppose the shovels are being sharpened up for the coming season. So for now, I was content to just walk among the palisades and buildings -- laid out and constructed just as they were in 1607-1610.
Many coins, tokens, and jettons have been found here. I have a listing of what was found, and where, so I made sure to visit each site. Of course, nothing but the brick church tower (built about 1639) remains above ground, so visiting each building meant standing on a patch of grass whereat a building once was.
Still, I found it thrilling to be here. Standing where all the action took place. Two mud-and-stud buildings have been reproduced to show their size, shape, and construction -- namely, the Barracks and the second Church. The latter is newly discovered.
The Barracks (known as Structure 160) was a crudely built two-room long-house with a chimney near the middle. Timbers were sunk into the ground to support the walls. The rafters were steep and tent-like to accommodate a thatched roof.
The Barracks is considered to be one of the earliest fort structures dating to 1607-1610. The building had a small cellar pit at the south end. Since many military artifacts were unearthed in and around this pit (known as Pit 1), the building has been called the Barracks. Some of the artifacts included a complete cabasset helmet, several musket rests, bullet molds, and over two-hundred lead shot.
Of particular interest, several Krauwinkel jettons were found in Pit 1. They were of the common rose and orb design (no ships). In addition, two Irish pennies made of copper, one dated 1602, were found nearby (similar to the coins I profiled on this blog at the start of the year). A halved two-pence silver coin (half groat) was also found; it was an Elizabethan piece with the hand mintmark, providing a date range of 1590-92. Finally, a rare phoenix token (also Elizabethan) was found in Pit 1 -- the purpose of this token is mysterious.
Tomorrow, I will be enjoying some hot coffee in my new mug that depicts a drawing of the fort by Captain John Smith.
