Documentary History of Jamestown Island Volume 2: Land Ownership
McCartney MW. 2000. Documentary History of Jamestown Island Volume 2: Land Ownership. Jamestown Archaeological Assessment 1992-1996. Cooperative Agreement: CA-4000-2-1017. National Park Service; Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; College of William & Mary. Williamburg, Virginia
The ten-volume Jamestown Archaeological Assessment (JAA) represents the culmination of six decades of archaeology conducted by the National Park Service on one of the most significant sites in North America. In the 1930s, J. C. Harrington, the father of historical archaeology, conducted the first surveys of New Towne that identified the foundations of major buildings from the seventeenth-century capital city. In the 1950s, John L. Cotter developed a grid system for New Towne that resulted in the development of a historical base map, which proved to be invaluable for the JAA team. Then in the late 1980s, James N. Haskett, Assistant Superintendent, identified the need to survey the entire portion of Jamestown Island owned by the National Park Service. The objectives of this survey were to test new methods of locating archaeological sites, evaluate their effectiveness, and ensure a comprehensive and integrated approach. The Assessment included the relationship of the natural environment to the historical events, historical documentation of land ownership and those who lived on Jamestown Island, an analysis of artifacts and skeletal material previously uncovered, and using the latest technology, i.e., Geographical Information Systems, to ix document the discoveries. As we approach the 400th anniversary of James town in 2007, this assessment will serve as a guiding light for the preservation and interpretation of America's birthplace well into the next century.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- McCartney, Martha
- Date of Issue
- 2000
- Publisher
- National Park Service; Colonial Williamsburg Foundation; College of William & Mary
- Units
- HIST , JAME
- Keywords
- Cultural Resources, ehistory, History, Jamestown Island, Land, landowners, owners, property, settlements