Artifacts

[|ARMS and ARMOR]
 * On the 22 1/2 acre property on Jamestown Island, Virginia, excavations have recovered over 350,000 artifacts dating to the first 1607 Jamestown settlement. Many people believed James Fort had been washed into the river. Over 250 feet of two wall lines, the east cannon projection, three filled in cellars, and a building have all been uncovered. Let's take a look and see some of the artifacts.**
 * Armor wasn't just worn by knights in the Middle Ages. Archaeologists have uncovered a number of pieces of armor like that worn by soldiers in Europe in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Armor, which was made of steel plates, had to become stronger and thus heavier to protect soldiers from bullets. The tremendous weight of the armor made full suits of armor like those worn in medieval times impractical.**
 * By the time Jamestown was settled, the most popular form of armor was the pikeman's suit weighing about 24 lbs. This armor consisted of a helmet, a breastplate, a backplate, steel plates called tassets which protected the upper thighs, and, sometimes, a neck protection piece known as a gorget.**
 * The English relied heavily on their trade with the native Algonquian population to provide food for the colony in the first years of settlement. We see that trade reflected in** indian-made pots **used for cooking and storage and, perhaps, to deliver corn. There were many other ARTIFACTS left behind by the Jamestown colonists.**

**Many artifacts are part of the** [|**National Geographic Exhibit**]**. Take some time and browse through the different links. Now, look at "**[|**Work and Play**]**." Choose two categories and write a brief description of each.**