Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland

In 2002, a trash pit near James Fort’s western wall revealed a grave shaft. This grave, dating to 1607-1608, was unusual because it was outside the fort and parallel to its wall. It contained no colonial artifacts but indicated a burial in a coffin, suggesting the deceased was a person of importance. Excavation revealed an iron pike, part of a captain’s leading staff, which further suggested the grave honored a high-ranking individual. The skeleton, dubbed “the Captain,” was well-preserved due to the sandy soil, which drained water better than the clay-filled soil of other Jamestown graves. The preservation revealed the Captain had been shrouded, as evidenced by green stains from decomposed shroud pins.

Forensic analysis by Doug Owsley showed the Captain was a slender man, aged 33 to 39, who showed slight arthritis and signs of physical activity and was likely right-handed. The Captain had lost a few teeth before death, had a history of nasal infections, and had a healed sprained ankle. Stable isotope analysis indicated a diet consistent with someone from England, suggesting he had not been in Virginia long before his death.