In the heart of what would become the United States, the story of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement, has long been etched into history. Founded in 1607, this colony in Virginia faced brutal hardships that nearly wiped out the settlement entirely. One of the darkest and most revealing discoveries came to light in 2012, when archaeologists unearthed the skull and leg bones of a 14-year-old girl among butchered animal bones and discarded food scraps. These bones carried a haunting story of survival, a desperate chapter that brings a new perspective to the winter of 1609-1610, known as the “Starving Time.”
The Discovery at Jamestown
The 2012 discovery in Jamestown, Virginia, was chilling. Archaeologists, led by forensic anthropologist Douglas Owsley from the Smithsonian Insтιтution, uncovered the skull and other bones in a trash deposit. The remains were found alongside remnants of butchered horses, dogs, and other food scraps discarded by Jamestown settlers. The skull and leg bones, meticulously examined by Owsley, belonged to a young girl who was likely around 14 years old at her death. Although details about her origins remain uncertain, she was given the name “Jane” by researchers to honor her as a part of Jamestown’s story.
Jane’s remains were not immediately distinguishable from the butchered animal bones around them, yet they contained evidence of a disturbing chapter. Owsley’s team found clear indications that the girl’s body had been subjected to cuts and blows from multiple sharp instruments, providing evidence of cannibalism—a desperate act that only the harshest of circumstances could drive people to commit.
The “Starving Time” and the Desperation in James Fort
The winter of 1609-1610 in Jamestown was brutal and merciless. Known to history as the “Starving Time,” it became a season of near-total isolation for the colony’s 300 settlers, confined to James Fort by both harsh weather and hostilities with surrounding Indigenous tribes. In addition to food shortages and disease, the settlers faced a siege that left them cut off from vital resources and supply lines. As winter settled in, Jamestown’s settlers were faced with grim choices, forced to ration every last scrap of food. The situation rapidly declined into starvation, with settlers consuming their horses, dogs, cats, and even shoe leather to survive.
By the end of that winter, only 60 of the 300 settlers remained alive. When relief ships arrived in the spring of 1610, they were met by emaciated survivors who had endured unspeakable hardships. For years, written records hinted at the extreme measures taken during this time, but it wasn’t until Jane’s remains were found that there was tangible, forensic evidence of cannibalism. It was a reality that the colony’s chroniclers had whispered about but one that had gone unproven until now.
Forensic Evidence of Cannibalism
The analysis of Jane’s skull reveals the desperation that must have gripped the settlers during that winter. Douglas Owsley’s forensic study found clear evidence of multiple blows and cuts from at least three different sharp instruments. These markings indicated a methodical attempt to remove soft tissue from the bone, suggesting a deliberate, if reluctant, act of cannibalism. The cuts along the forehead and jaw showed a controlled, careful removal of flesh, while more forceful marks on the skull’s base suggested attempts to reach the brain.
The tools used were identified as metal instruments, likely knives and cleavers. The various cut marks, depth, and locations suggest that at least one individual, if not more, participated in this process. Owsley’s findings marked the first forensic proof of cannibalism in an early European colony in North America, confirming what had long been suspected.
Jane’s remains, along with those of the other animals, paint a vivid picture of the daily struggles within James Fort. Her bones, placed alongside butchered horse and dog bones, serve as haunting evidence of the lengths to which people were driven when facing starvation.
The Human Cost of Colonization
This discovery adds complexity to our understanding of early European colonization. Jamestown’s story is often presented as one of resilience and forтιтude, but Jane’s remains show the steep price paid by individuals. While her story offers insight into the human experience within the colony, it also sheds light on the difficult reality settlers faced in a foreign and hostile environment. Far from a romanticized tale of adventure, the story of Jamestown reflects the grim reality of survival and the extreme lengths people will go to when deprived of basic necessities.
A Legacy Remembered
Jane’s story, though heartbreaking, underscores the survival of Jamestown and its role in establishing the future United States. The tale of cannibalism is only one part of a larger history of endurance, forтιтude, and tragedy that marked the colony’s early years. While the remains of “Jane” reveal a tragic moment, they are also a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the bleakest of circumstances.
In revealing this dark chapter, Jane’s story challenges us to rethink our perceptions of early settlers and the immense hardships they endured. As visitors walk through Jamestown today, they do so on land that holds echoes of these early struggles, where individuals like Jane were part of a larger, complex story of survival. The discovery of her remains provides a visceral connection to this past, reminding us that history is often more complex—and more human—than we might imagine.
