Excavations & Research

The Jamestown Rediscovery Project began in 1994 with the hope of uncovering the site of the original James Fort, long considered lost to erosion in the James River. Excavations subsequently revealed that most of the fort, except for one of the bastions, remained on dry land. To date archaeologists have excavated approximately 80% of the original 1607 triangular fort and 50% of the expanded 5-sided 1608 fort, yielding some 3 million artifacts from the settlement’s early years.

Active excavation, research, and analysis continues today. Follow along on our Dig Updates blog or explore the links below to learn more about where archaeologists are digging as well as other kinds of research initiatives seeking to uncover more about Jamestown’s 17th-century history and its modern legacies.

current excavation areas

about jamestown rediscovery

ongoing projects

past projects