In 1955 a pottery kiln site was discovered at Jamestown. Nearby were
found many utilitarian earthenware vessels of the 1625-40
period--definite evidence that pottery was made in Virginia over 300
years ago. Although made for everyday use, many of the pieces unearthed
are symmetrical and not entirely lacking in beauty. The unknown
Jamestown potters were artisans, trained in the mysteries of an ancient
craft, who first transplanted their skills to the Virginia wilderness.
[Illustration: OBJECTS FOUND AT A 17TH-CENTURY FORGE SITE AT JAMESTOWN:
BLACKSMITH'S TOOLS, BAR IRON, A FEW INCOMPLETE ITEMS, SWORD GUARDS, AND
SLAG. IT APPEARS THAT THE FORGE WAS IN OPERATION AS EARLY AS 1625.]
[Illustration: BUILDING A SMALL BOAT AT JAMESTOWN ABOUT 1650. (Painting
by Sidney E. King.)]
[Illustration: BOAT-BUILDING TOOLS FOUND, ALL MADE BEFORE 1700.]
[Illustration: EARTHENWARE VESSELS MADE AT JAMESTOWN BETWEEN 1625 AND
1640. THE SITE OF AN EARLY 17TH-CENTURY POTTERY KILN WAS DISCOVERED ON
THE ISLAND IN 1955.]
[Illustration: MAKING POTTERY AT JAMESTOWN, ABOUT 1625-40. (Painting by
Sidney E. King.)]
[Illustration: ARTIFACTS FOUND NEAR THE SITE OF THE JAMESTOWN GLASSHOUSE
WHICH WAS IN OPERATION AS EARLY AS 1608: A SMALL MELTING POT, PART OF A
WORKING HOLE, FRAGMENT FROM LARGE MELTING POT, CULLET (BROKEN OR REFUSE
GLASS SHOWN IN LOWER LEFT CORNER), AND GREEN GLASS FRAGMENTS (LOWER
CENTER AND LOWER RIGHT).]
[Illustration: BLOWING GLASS AT JAMESTOWN IN 1608. (Conjectural sketch
by Sidney E. King.)]