Preserving America’s Past: Jamestown Faces an Uncertain Future
Along the banks of Virginia’s James River, a critical chapter of American history is at risk. As archaeologists meticulously unearth artifacts from the site of the first permanent English settlement in North America, rising sea levels threaten to wash away remnants of Jamestown’s storied past.
BY BEN TRACY, SENIOR CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT ON ASSIGNMENT FOR CLIMATE CENTRAL
Sean Romo, the director of archaeology for Jamestown Rediscovery, pauses when a subtle color change emerges in the soil. “I think it might be a gate,” he whispers, as he and his team, kneeling in precise grids, carefully scrape away layers of earth that have remained untouched since the early 1600s. “You can’t put a shovel in the ground without finding something,” Romo explains.
This small island is steeped in history. Founded in 1607, it hosted America’s first representative assembly in 1619, witnessed the marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, and sadly marked the arrival of the first enslaved Africans.
A History Buried Beneath Our Feet
Long thought lost to the James River, the original Jamestown Fort was rediscovered in 1994. Since then, over five million artifacts have been unearthed, offering a richer understanding of the colony’s diverse inhabitants, from English settlers to the Powhatan people and the first Africans in English America.
Yet, even as new discoveries are made, the site itself is in peril. Rising waters have increased by about 1.6 feet over the last century, accelerating with projections of at least three more feet by 2075. The island is eroding on one side while wetlands encroach on the other, leading to frequent flooding of excavation pits.
A Race Against the Water
Researchers now use ground-penetrating radar to identify significant areas beneath the surface, prioritizing those most at risk from water damage. Jamestown exemplifies a broader issue affecting America’s coastlines.
As fossil fuel combustion warms the planet, ice sheets melt, and seawater expands, contributing to global sea level rise. By 2050, an estimated 2.5 million Americans and numerous historic sites could face severe coastal flooding, according to Climate Central.
The Coastline Is Changing
“The map is changing,” says Rob Young, a coastal geologist at Western Carolina University. His team evaluates climate risks across the National Park System’s coastal units. Rising seas and climate change are reshaping the landscape faster than ever before.
The repercussions extend beyond archaeology. Increased flooding affects visitor access to national parks and causes historic structures, like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, to be moved inland. However, not all landmarks can be relocated, such as Fort Sumter.
“We’re not gonna move Fort Sumter,” Young states, emphasizing the need for national discussions on which sites can be defended and which might be lost to advancing waters. “The trick for us as a society is to care enough to admit that and have a good national conversation about what we do about it and what we can save and what we can’t.”
Buying Time, Saving History
Jamestown’s seawall, dating back to 1902, has been fortified with large boulders to curb erosion. While this may delay the inevitable, Romo acknowledges that it’s not a permanent fix. “If we do nothing we’re gonna go from Jamestown Island to Jamestown Islands in the next 50 years,” he warns. “The time to act is now to protect this space and to ensure future generations can still learn about and experience the place where American history was made.”
Original Story at www.climatecentral.org