42 pages • 1 hour read
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
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Chapters 2-3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 2 Summary
Carter Hudgins and Danny Schmidt carefully excavated the grave, a process complicated by human decomposition. After death, microbes consume soft tissues, often leaving only bones, which tend to shift and settle over time. The skull, being the highest point, is typically uncovered first. Using delicate tools, Hudgins and Schmidt exposed the fragile skeleton, affected by moisture in the clay subsoil.
To preserve the burial scene, they “pedestaled” the bones, leaving them on a soil pad for examination. The straight alignment of the legs and feet indicated the boy had been shrouded, though the arms’ positions suggested otherwise. A loosely wrapped shroud could explain this discrepancy. The discovery of a Powhatan arrowhead near the femur pointed to a possible wound, though its impact on the boy’s death remained uncertain.
Owsley’s detailed examination aimed to uncover the boy’s life and death by considering factors like bone measurements and the arrowhead’s position. He noted that long bones grow until young adulthood, with epiphyses remaining separate from the shaft during growth years. The state of JR1225B’s epiphyses indicated he was a teenager. Teeth development, a reliable age indicator, showed that JR1225B’s second molars were worn, suggesting use for a few years, while wisdom teeth were not yet visible, supporting the estimate of being under 18.
Sex determination involved examining pelvic and skull features. JR1225B’s pelvis had distinctly male characteristics, and the robust long bones, larger teeth, prominent brow ridge, and squared chin further confirmed this. Owsley’s analysis of skull features, such as the narrow nasal opening and face and the shape of the roof of the mouth, suggested European ancestry. Finally, Owsley considered the arrowhead’s impact, noting it was likely embedded in the boy’s thigh muscle. While it would not have caused immediate death, infection could have led to fatal blood poisoning. The boy’s death from an infection wouldn’t leave traces on the bones, making it a plausible cause.
Chapter 3 Summary
The remains of JR1225B were so fragile that they had to be removed with the supporting soil to prevent crumbling. These bones were taken to the Jamestown Rediscovery Project lab, where they were cleaned, slowly dried to prevent shrinkage, and coated with an acrylic mixture to prevent further damage. The conserved bones were then stored in a controlled environment before being sent to the Smithsonian for further analysis.
At the Smithsonian, Owsley and forensic anthropologist Kari Bruwelheide examined and measured the bones, determining the boy’s height to be about five foot, eight inches—unusually tall for the 17th century. The arrowhead found near the femur had not penetrated the bone, suggesting he likely died from an infection caused by the wound. They also found a fractured clavicle, indicating an injury shortly before death, and several health issues, including a healed head injury, signs of an iron-deficient diet, and growth disruptions likely caused by poor nutrition or disease.
One of the most severe health issues was a jaw infection. The boy had a broken left incisor that exposed the tooth pulp, which would have caused intense pain and eventually led to an abscess. The infection spread into the bone of his chin and jaw, likely contributing to his death.
Stable isotope analysis revealed a carbon-13 value of -19.3 in JR1225B’s bones, indicating he had not consumed corn. The low carbon-13 value suggested JR1225B was raised on a European diet—consistent with someone who lived in England and only moved to North America shortly before his death. Historical records hinted that JR1225B could be Richard Mutton, a boy who arrived in Jamestown in 1607 and then disappeared from records. However, many colonists were not documented, and lack of written documentation is not enough for anthropologists to give a positive identification.
Chapters 2-3 Analysis
In Chapters 2 and 3, Walker uses detailed, step-by-step descriptions to explain the scientific processes involved in archaeological digs and forensic analysis. For example, she describes how Hudgins and Schmidt used wood and plastic tools to avoid damaging the bones, illustrating the careful attention to detail required in such work. In addition to describing the tools archaeologists and forensic anthropologists use, she also provides a rationale for why they need to use those particular tools. By carefully explaining each phase of the excavation and conservation work, she demystifies these techniques in a way consistent with her target audience of young readers. Her approach breaks down complex scientific methodology and concepts in an effort to foster curiosity and interest in the field of archaeology. By making the scientific process transparent, Walker also asks young readers to appreciate the rigor and dedication involved, highlighting The Role of Science in Understanding Human History.
Even when explicating the science behind the subject matter, Walker draws on literary techniques to lend interest to her discussion. For example, Walker uses foreshadowing in these chapters to build suspense, hinting at significant discoveries and revelations to come. In Chapter 2, she introduces the process of excavation with careful attention to detail, setting up expectations for the findings that follow. This technique is evident when Walker writes about the discovery of the arrowhead alongside JR1225B’s femur. She details its presence and condition but leaves the full implications of this finding for later analysis, creating a sense of anticipation. Similarly, the mention of the unusual position of the boy’s arms suggests that there is more to uncover about his burial and death, inviting readers to keep reading to learn more and engaging them in the journey of discovery; Walker’s structuring of information asks readers to piece together clues alongside the scientists so that they will be more invested in the eventual revelations.
The teenage boy’s grave serves as a microcosm of the larger historical narrative of Jamestown, illustrating the challenges faced by early settlers. His remains showed signs of malnutrition, injury, and infection. These indicators reflect the harsh realities of colonial life, including limited medical knowledge, frequent conflicts, and the struggle for survival in a new and unforgiving environment. The arrow wound and broken clavicle suggest violent encounters with Indigenous Americans, while the signs of malnutrition and infection demonstrate the scarcity of food and medical care. Walker explicitly notes how the boy’s remains reflect the conditions he faced during life, observing that “a depression in the front of his skull […] revealed that he had sustained a blow to the head” (39). This connects the archaeologists’ findings to the life of the boy who is now known as JR1225B, reflecting Walker’s interest in the Daily Lives of American Colonists.
In these chapters, Walker introduces some of the scientific techniques that are applied in later excavations. She explains the process and significance of isotope analysis, which she references in the rest of the investigations. She front-loads this technical information to prepare readers for the detailed forensic work that follows, establishing a foundation of scientific knowledge to build on later.
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