Four lime kilns were unearthed on the historic island, where oyster
shells from the James River were burned and converted into lime by the
limeburner. As early as 1610 "lymeburners" emigrated to Virginia, and
thereafter many such workers came to the colony from England.
[Illustration: FOUR BRICK KILNS HAVE BEEN EXCAVATED. THE ONE SHOWN HAD
FIVE FIRING CHAMBERS. ROOFING TILES WERE ALSO MADE IN THE JAMESTOWN
BRICK KILNS.]
[Illustration: A 17TH-CENTURY LIME KILN EXCAVATED AT JAMESTOWN. IN IT
OYSTER SHELLS FROM THE JAMES RIVER WERE BURNED FOR MAKING LIME. THE IRON
HOOPS WHICH SUPPORTED THE ARCHED TOP OF THE KILN BUCKLED FROM THE
INTENSE HEAT.]
[Illustration: MAKING LIME FROM OYSTER SHELLS IN A KILN, ABOUT 1625.
(Conjectural sketch by Sidney E. King.)]