New Discoveries at Jamestown Part 8

A few ivory fragments that have been excavated appear to be parts of dice and chessmen. Chess was popular during the 17th century, and many dice games, including even and odd, hazard, pa.s.sage, mumchance, and novem were played.

Other games which undoubtedly were played in many Jamestown homes were tick-tack, backgammon, Irish, and cards. Card games were popular, especially primero, trump, piquet, saint, and decoy.

Many 17th-century fireplace tiles in the Jamestown collection are decorated with charming little pictures depicting children's games.

Activities portrayed include skating, bowling, spinning tops, fis.h.i.+ng, rolling hoops, using a yo-yo, swinging, wrestling, skipping rope, shooting, playing skittles, riding a hobby horse, sledding, boxing, and playing musical instruments. These pictures remind us that games played by boys and girls today are very similar to those enjoyed by children three centuries ago.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS REVEALED THAT THE COLONISTS ENJOYED ARCHERY. THE IRON LEVER SHOWN, KNOWN AS A "GOAT'S FOOT," WAS USED FOR SETTING THE STRING OF A LIGHT HUNTING CROSSBOW. IT WAS FOUND 4 MILES FROM JAMESTOWN. ILl.u.s.tRATION SHOWING THE USE OF A "GOAT'S FOOT"

FROM _Weapons, A Pictorial History_ BY EDWIN TUNIS.]

ARCHERY AND HUNTING

One interesting item relating to archery has been found 4 miles from Jamestown. Known as a "goat's foot," it is an iron lever which was used for pulling back and setting the string of a light hunting crossbow.

Contemporary records indicate that hunting game birds and animals was a popular New World diversion. Such sport served a twofold purpose, as it offered recreation to the settler and helped provide food for his table.

Parts of early fowling pieces and numerous lead birdshot (called goose or swan shot during the early years of the 17th century) have been recovered.

MUSIC AND DANCING

A large a.s.sortment of iron and bra.s.s Jew's harps (also known as Jew's trumps) have been found. This small instrument is lyre-shaped, and when placed between the teeth gives tones from a bent metal tongue when struck by the finger. Modulation of tone is produced by changing the size and shape of the mouth cavity.

As there is no record of spinets, or virginals, having been used at Jamestown, we have no way of knowing whether such wire-stringed, keyboard instruments were used in the homes of the more prosperous planters, together with other musical instruments of the period.

It is quite certain, however, that the Jamestown settlers knew the songs and ballads which were sung in Great Britain in those days. They were also familiar with English, Irish, Welsh, and Scotch dances. A few contemporary accounts reveal that the Virginia colonists enjoyed merry tunes and ditties, as well as lively dances. Although living in a wilderness, there were times when they could enjoy a few leisure-hour activities and amus.e.m.e.nts, including singing and dancing.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLAYING A JEW'S HARP--ENJOYING A LITTLE MUSIC IN THE VIRGINIA WILDERNESS. (Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: AN a.s.sORTMENT OF JEW'S HARPS UNEARTHED AT JAMESTOWN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: A FEW OBJECTS RECOVERED AT JAMESTOWN WHICH WERE ONCE USED ON 17TH-CENTURY BOATS--REMINDERS OF A DAY WHEN TRAVEL IN VIRGINIA WAS LARGELY BY WATER.]

Travel

During the 17th century, travel in Virginia was mainly by boat. As the roads leading from Jamestown to the nearby settlements were usually in deplorable condition, especially after heavy rains, the settlers preferred to travel by water whenever possible. As the colony grew, and roads were improved somewhat, travel by horse became more common, especially for short trips. After 1650 the use of wagons increased, and records indicate that a few of the more prosperous planters imported fine carriages from England.

BOATS AND s.h.i.+PS

Boats used by the settlers varied in size from small flat-bottom boats to fairly large sailing vessels, and included such types as small rowboats, pinnaces, barks, bilanders, schooners, ketches, and sloops.

Living on a river, and in a tidewater area of innumerable creeks, bays, and rivers, practically all of the colonists were familiar with handling boats of one type or another.

However, only a few objects relating to boats and s.h.i.+ps have been unearthed at Jamestown: small anchors, chains, oar locks, s.h.i.+p bolts and spikes, and tools used by s.h.i.+pwrights and s.h.i.+ps' carpenters.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SOME BITS AND BRIDLE ORNAMENTS IN THE JAMESTOWN COLLECTION. THE ARTISTIC DESIGNS ON MANY BRIDLE BOSSES ARE SYMBOLIC OF BEAUTIFUL HANDIWORK PERFORMED BY CRAFTSMEN OF A BYGONE DAY.]

HORSES, WAGONS, AND CARRIAGES

The first English-built road in America (in use by 1608) ran 1 mile from Jamestown Island to Gla.s.shouse Point. Later, as the colony grew, the road was extended to Governor Berkeley's plantation, about 4 miles from Jamestown, and other nearby settlements. There is some evidence that it was known as the "Old Road" or "Greate Road."

[Ill.u.s.tration: SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY SPUR AND STIRRUP EXCAVATED AT JAMESTOWN.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THIS BRANDING IRON WAS USED BY ONE OF THE COLONISTS DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SETTLEMENT.]

As early as 1609 "six mares and two horses" were brought to Jamestown.

In 1611, 17 horses and mares arrived, and in 1614, Capt. Samuel Argall brought several more. Six years later in 1620, 20 horses were s.h.i.+pped from England. It is most surprising, therefore, that the census of 1625 recorded only 1 horse for the entire colony! By 1649, however, it was estimated that there were 300 horses in Virginia, and most of the successful farmers and wealthy planters owned them after 1650. During the following years, the number of horses increased greatly.

Many well-preserved metal objects relating to horse equipment and riding gear have been unearthed.

Bits and Bridle Ornaments.--Most bits are of the snaffle variety, although a few curb bits have been recovered. In those days many bits had bra.s.s bosses attached to their cheek bars, and many of these attractive ornaments have been unearthed. Some bosses are decorated with raised designs while others are plain. The majority are made of bra.s.s, although a few iron bosses have been excavated.

Spurs and Stirrups.--A few complete spurs have been excavated. While the majority are plain iron some bra.s.s spurs in the collection are decorated with very attractive incised or embossed designs. Two or three of the highly decorated bra.s.s spurs are probably of Spanish origin. One of them, in excellent condition, was found near an early brick kiln.

[Ill.u.s.tration: WROUGHT-IRON HORSESHOES AND CURRYCOMBS USED PRIOR TO 1650.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SETTLERS TRADING WITH THE INDIANS--BARTERING CASTING COUNTERS AND OTHER TRADE GOODS FOR FURS. (Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]

All stirrups unearthed are made of wrought iron. Some of the steps or stirrup bars are solid, while others have a single slot.

Horseshoes and Currycombs.--Horseshoes found vary considerably in size, although the majority are relatively small. Many shoes have both toe and heel calks, and in most examples the calks are well worn. The many small shoes that have been excavated may indicate that the horses used in Virginia three centuries ago were much smaller than the 20th-century breeds.

All currycombs found are handwrought, and many have pleasing designs on the backs, formed by the curved iron strips which extend from the handle p.r.o.ng to the back of the comb.

Branding Irons.--Parts of several branding irons were found including a complete example with initials "TR."

Wagon and Carriage Parts.--Archeologists unearthed only a few metal parts from wagons and carriages--reminders of a day when horses and oxen were indispensable animals in the Virginia settlements.

Trade

Some interesting objects recovered at Jamestown relate to early trade.

These include items used in trade with the Indians, as well as an excellent a.s.sortment of lead bale clips. These clips are decorated discs which were often attached to bales of goods (especially woolen cloth) imported from England. One object, the heaviest unearthed at Jamestown, relates indirectly to trade. It is a 1,300-pound iron piledriver which was once used to build wharfs and piers.

INDIAN TRADE

One reason why the colonists selected a site for Jamestown some miles up the James River was to develop the Indian trade over an extensive area.

During the early years of the colony, trade with the natives was encouraged. It is clear from the early records that the settlers bartered such items as beads, cloth, penny knives, shears, bells, gla.s.s toys, whistles, hatchets, pots and pans, bra.s.s casting counters, and similar objects in exchange for Indian corn (and other vegetables), fish, game, fruits and berries, and furs.

Many examples of English trade goods used for bartering with the Indians have been found on the island, but these can be described only briefly.

Beads.--The majority of gla.s.s beads were s.h.i.+pped from England, although some may have been made in Italy, probably in Venice. As no gla.s.s beads were found at or near the site of the gla.s.s factory, it is doubtful whether any were made there. Most beads in the collection are round or oval, a few are cylindrical having been cut from colored gla.s.s rods. All beads excavated are of one or more colors, with the exception of 2 or 3 that are colorless. After three centuries the attractive colors still persist; and looking at the colorful beads today you can understand the charm they held for the Indians.

Knives.--Small, inexpensive knives called penny knives, were often used for trading purposes during the years at Jamestown. A few folding knives and blade fragments (which may also have been penny knives) have been recovered.

Shears.--Several shears and scissors, highly prized by the Indians, were found on the island. A few are almost complete.