Interpreting Lost Landscapes Within a Historic Standing Structure, the 1617-1647 Timber Frame Church at Jamestown.

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Excavating the Foundations of Representative Government: A Case Study in Interdisciplinary Historical Archaeology." , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Jamestown Rediscovery conducted a two year archaeological investigation within the 1907 Jamestown memorial church and revealed new information on the construction of the 1617 timber frame building. Research of surviving examples in England offered direct links to understanding the use of space within these Jamestown churches. Jamestown Rediscovery excavations located the “quire” where the burgesses began the proceedings. 2019 reconstructions utilize the 1617 floor plan, furniture, and interpretive space to provide “the spot” where democracy began in the English new world. In July and August 2019, Jamestown observed the 400th anniversary of the first General Assembly which convened in the timber frame church and established a form of representative government we still practice today. These historical anniversaries can provide a touchstone for public debate and reflection from our collective past that continue to influence and challenge us today.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Excavating the Foundations of Representative Government: A Case Study in Interdisciplinary Historical Archaeology.   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 577