The Starving Time at Jamestown in the Colony of Virginia was a period of starvation during the winter of 1609–1610. There were about 600 Jamestown residents at the beginning of the winter. However, there were only 61 people still alive when the spring arrived.
The colonists, the first group of whom had originally arrived on May 13, 1607, had never planned to grow all of their own food. Their plans depended upon trade with the local Powhatan tribe to supply them with food between the arrivals of scarce supply ships from England. Lack of access to water and a relatively dry rain season crippled the agricultural production of the colonists. Also, the water that the colonists drank was brackish and potable for only half of the year.
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The English settlement at Jamestown had been established on May 24, 1607. The initial small group of 104 men and boys chose the location because it was favorable for defensive purposes, but it offered poor hunting prospects and a shortage of drinking water. Although they did some farming, few of the original settlers were accustomedto manual labor or familiar with farming. The colonists were largely dependent upon trade with the Native Americans and periodic supply ships from England for their food.
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A series of incidents with the Native Americans soon developed into serious conflicts, ending any hope of an alliance with them. This forced the settlers into close quarters, behind fortified walls, severely limiting their ability to farm the area and trade with other Indian tribes. Various attempts at farming led to continued conflicts with the natives. The combination of disease and conflict almost obliterated the initial English population.
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From there, things only seemed to get worse. The colony was perpetually short on food. The malnutrition made the settlers vulnerable to disease, which quickly set in and began killing off the colonists. The colony began to stave.
Several primary accounts of the period reference acts of cannibalism. But for many years, they were dismissed as myths. But in 2013, archeologists made a gruesome discovery that proved the accounts were true. In a trash heap dating from the period at the site, researchers found the remains of a 14-year-old girl. From cut marks along the bones, it was obvious that she had been butchered.
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Doug Owsley, head of physical anthropology at the Smithsonian, examined the remains and concluded that t
the cuts were made by desperate people, driven to eat their dead by Starving Time. “They were clearly interested in cheek meat, muscles of the face, tongue, and brain,” Owsley continued.
Starving Time turned out to be the worst period in Jamestown’s history. Over the next few decades, the colony began to thrive. It proved to be an important element in England’s eventual colonization of North America.
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Question 1
1.
Question 2
2.
Question 3
3.
Question 4
4.
Question 5
5.
Why were the colonists unable to trade with different native tribes?
Question 6
6.
Question 7
7.
In your own words, what is cannibalism? Use your research skills (ie:Google) if you are unsure!
Question 8
8.
What was the Jamestown colonists' plan to secure food?
To trade for food with the Native Americans.
To rely on frequent shipments of food from England.
To develop their own advanced farming techniques.
To buy food from other settlers living in the area.
As used in the text, "crippled" most nearly means
paralyzed
disabled
assisted
destroyed
What was one pro of Jamestown's location?
It was an ideal location for defensive purposes.
It was near the settlers Native American allies.
It allowed the settlers to effectively farm the land.
It had plenty of available drinking water.
As used in the text, "quarters" most nearly means
spaces
divisions
finances
neighborhoods
As used in the text, "perpetually" most nearly means
continuously
rarely
hardly
forever
Why does Owsley believe the 14 year old girl was butchered?
He was present at the time of her death.
The cut marks are clearly made by humans.
There are images of her dead butchered body.
There is a diary entry that says she was butchered.