In Jamestown, Virginia, an accumulation of oyster shells was found. These were excavated from an abandoned well which had been constructed by early settlers. The oyster shells disclose high levels of salinity in the water from the James River. In comparison to today, the water was much saltier; this means that for the water to have been so brackish, river flow must have been very slow. This translates to the fact that there was little water, and that a drought must have taken place. Jamestown was established in 1607. Though it has been chronicled and recorded by the settlers, physical prove of the drought was lacking. With exception of the study of the rings of trees, and the oyster shells, there was not much but the settler's words to be found of such event. According to Howard Spero, who conducted the studies, "It was interesting to figure out what was happening in the colony at a time when 70 to 80 percent of the colonists were dying. This was CSI: Jamestown." The oyster shells were found about 100 yards from the river, within a fort's well. There were materials and tools from the time. The water level of the well was 3.5 meters. The reason for it's abandonment is unclear. It is believed that maybe the salt water infiltrated it, or it ran dry. For this reason, the colonists converted it into a trash pit. It is estimated that it was dug between 1606 and 1616. The oyster shells were harvested before the drought ended; this was confirmed by the level of oxygen isotopes in them.
*The experiment is discovery based science. The scientists took samples of the shells and materials, and tested them.
*It is important to human findings as it solidifies the evidence of the drought which took place during the colonizing of North America. It was an event in which many people died.
Author: Sid Perkins
Title of article: Trash confirms Jamestown drought
Journal Science News
Date published: July 3,2010
Page of article: 14
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