Jamestown Settlers Ate Each Other

[CACtain Planet]

WASHINGTON -- Jamestown's colonists resorted to cannibalism during the "starving time" winter of 1609-10, archaeologists confirmed Wednesday.

In a briefing at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, archaeologist Doug Owsley presented the reconstructed skull of a 14-year-old English girl, named "Jane" by the researchers, discovered at the site of the fort and bearing the marks of butchery.

"The skull was split in half, most likely with a lightweight ax or quite possibly, a cleaver," Owsley said at the briefing. Cut marks crisscrossing the skull and jaw of the girl indicate her flesh, tongue and brains were removed from the skull, Owsley said. Those were traditional cuts for animal butchery of the time, "all parts of the cuisine of the 17th century," he said.

Jamestown was founded in 1607 by English colonists. The starving time was a period two years later in which 80% of the colonists died. Besieged by Powhatan Indians in their wooden fort, the settlers had been joined by new colonists late that summer, among them women and children, whose main supply ship had disappeared in a storm, leaving them without food. Only 60 of 300 people survived the winter.

"They were so emaciated when they were rescued that they were described as resembling skeletons," says historian James Horn of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, who spoke at the briefing. Records kept by the colony's governor, George Percy, make clear references to cannibalism during the winter, Horn says. "The English would have only resorted to cannibalism under the most severe circumstances," he added.

VIDEO: Cannibalism at Jamestown confirmed

Owsley reported on the forensic analysis of 17th century human remains and a reconstruction of her appearance made by forensic scientists. The remains had been excavated by Jamestown archaeologists led by William Kelso of the Jamestown Recovery Project in 2012 as part of a 20-year excavation of the James Fort site. "We don't believe Jane was a lone case," Kelso said.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/01/jamestown-cannibalism/2126421/

CACs gonna CAC

 

[Hiphoplives4eva]

White folk never cease to amaze. These nikkas didn't know how to gather up food for the winter?

 

[Blackking]

Figures.

 

[thekingsmen]

 

[Poppa_Dock]

White folk never cease to amaze. These nikkas didn't know how to gather up food for the winter?

 

[CACtain Planet]

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

What does cannibalism have to do with skin color?

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

no wonder the indians were like check out these nuts and berries brehs

 

[CACtain Planet]

What does cannibalism have to do with skin color?

It shows that whites from the onset of this country cannot survive without the help and oppressment of black, red, and brown people

 

[tru_m.a.c]

What does cannibalism have to do with skin color?

only white people are capable of behavior

 

[Poppa_Dock]

It shows that whites from the onset of this country cannot survive without the help and oppressment of black, red, and brown people

it's common knowledge the settlers only survived bc of native help

they had to be taught what things grow in north america, how they grow etc. how to catch certain animals etc.

you dudes should have paid attention in history class

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

It shows that whites from the onset of this country cannot survive without the help and oppressment of black, red, and brown people

ok?

only white people are capable of behavior

So General Butt Naked was lying about murdering children and consuming their heart/blood before battle? And African Albino's aren't currently being murdered and eaten because they give you special powers? Interesting. Have you all ever starved to death?

 

[Poppa_Dock]

ok?

So General Butt Naked was lying about murdering children and consuming their heart/blood before battle? And African Albino's aren't currently being murdered and eaten because they give you special powers? Interesting. Have you all ever starved to death?

u sound sensitive brah.

 

[Broke Wave]

stupid thread... those jamestown settlers didn't own slaves they were just religious zealots... why would you celebrate human misery?

 

[MikeBrownsJob]