Archaeologist Dan Smith points to the outline of the well
shaftArchaeologists are four feet deep in a 17th-century well
inside the southwest corner of James Fort's 1608 church. In
spite of its location, the well dates to the mid 17th century,
well after the church -- and James Fort -- ceased to exist.
Several artifacts have been found within, a few of which are
helping to narrow down the well's construction date. Work is
wrapping up on an early-fort-period building several yards to
the north. The structure is very well preserved
archaeologically, and has exhibited evidence of metalworking on
its premises. The latest find, discovered during the excavation
of one of the building's postholes, is a complete glass vessel
used in alchemical labs, very similar in form and function to
the modern Petri dish. It's the first of its kind found since
the dig began in 1994, and it is rarer still for its
completeness. Work continues on the bombproof of Confederate
Fort Pocahontas and preparations are being made to display s