Jamestown Island is a place where in some ways time as stood still. The
past is returning slowly piece by piece with hard and time consuming archaeological
digs and processing the many piece we have already found.
To see the first church arches of North America makes one reflect on
what is was really like back in 1607 to start life in a new world. Dr
William Kelso has open a whole new door to how we now know life as
started here in North America.
The church was rebuilt but the tower in the front is the original one
built many years ago by the first settlers.
Life at Godspeed cottage with Ellen and the gang. A peaceful place to
live and be part of history.
Jamestown Island is a special place. Almost seems as if you step back in
time once you are on the Island. This picture is one summer evening in
June of 2006.
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William M. Kelso
Most know him as Dr. Kelso to his family and friends it is Bill
Kelso. This page is a little history of the man and his family and
friends.
Age: 65
Hometown: Bill Kelso grew up in Lakeside, Ohio, son of Albert and Mary Kelso.
Married to a sweet and lovely wife Ellen.
Son, Marty Kelso and Daughter Libby.
Four grand children Lila, Joey, Kelso and Riley
Current address: Jamestown, Virginia
Godspeed Cottage. With his wife Ellen Kelso noted author on Jamestown.
He and Ellen have two children Marty Kelso and Libby.
Education: Danbury High School, Baldwin Wallace College, Bill Kelso obtained his Master's Degree in early American history from the College of William and Mary in 1964. In 1971, He completed his Ph.D. at Emory University.
Occupation: Working in South Carolina and Williamsburg. Then between 1979 and 1985, Kelso served as the resident archeologist at
Monticello and Poplar Forest in 1986, he became director of archeology. Kelso has lectured on Architectural History at the University of Virginia's School of Architecture since 1976 and, since 1995, has served as Adjunct Professor at the College of William and Mary.
Kelso came to APVA's Jamestown in 1993. He became chief archaeologist at
Jamestown, Virginia Rediscovery, the first permanent settlement in America.
William
Kelso also is a author and has written several books about Jamestown as
well as well as other archaeology works.
What Drives me to do what I do what I do:
I am vigorously interested in experiencing the American past.
Archaeology gives me a sense of challenge and mystery-solving.
I think we have made great progress in the increased knowledge of
early life in Jamestown. We hope to solve many of the questions we all
had about life at that time in 1607 when North America was settled in
modern times.
Godspeed Cottage, Home.
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Most memorable moment in the field:
In July 1996 I was able to uncover and connect a number of
17th-century archaeological clues—James Fort’s archaeological
remains had survived after all! Discovery at the site of a buried
skeleton, complete with a musket ball in the leg, brought instant
understanding of the hardships and dangers of life in early Jamestown.
We have done so much more now with what we have found in the well. The
well has provided so much of the early artifacts it will take some time
to sort through it all.
The well was located and has provided us with a huge amount of
information on how people lived back then.
The
whole project is expanding our knowledge of life in the new world
There will be a new well was started on June of 2006
2006 Excavation:
The summer always brings new increased activity of
excavation. Archeological students from several colleges gather to learn
and earn credits while excavating in Jamestown
Rediscovery.
Here part of the wall next to one of the wells that is being excavated in
search of lost artifacts. William Kelso is in the back ground explains to his niece Mindy Snider what
and how they plan to excavate the hill
New Well Excavation 2006:
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