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Roanoke Colonies Research Newsletter
Evidence of a Sixteenth-Century Science Center Found at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site In excavations done between 1991 and 1993, archaeologists from the non-profit Virginia Company Foundation have found what they believe to be remains from a scientific workshop used by Joachim Gans and Thomas Harriot for metallurgical and distilling experiments during the first attempt to colonize Roanoke Island in 1585-1586. The remains were found immediately west of the reconstructed earth works at the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island and are instigating archaeologists to re-evaluate their various ideas concerning the location of the original Fort Raleigh. Information about the excavations done thus far can be found in the article. Roanoke Island: America’s First Science Center, by Ivor Noël Hume, in the Spring 1994 issue of the journal Colonial Williamsburg. Shorter pieces on the excavations have been printed in various other journals. (For more information, see the source checklist on pages 5-6.) A complete report on the excavations done thus far is in the process of being written, and its conclusions should be available for the next issue of the Roanoke Colonies Research Newsletter. The excavations have been directed by Ivor Noël Hume, retired foundation archaeologist for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and author of Martin’s Hundred. Taking over during the coming year is Dr. William Kelso, president of the Virginia Company foundation. However, Noël Hume will continue on as project consultant. The project administrator for the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site excavations is Nicolas M. Luccketti, the executive director of the Virginia Company Foundation. The Virginia Company Foundation is in the process of raising funds to continue with further excavations north of the reconstructed earthen fort. The Virginia Company Foundation can be reached at 2080 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23185 or by calling (804) 229-9485. Top
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