Researchers Find Evidence of Cannibalism in Jamestown

A team of researchers has found evidence of cannibalism in the historic Jamestown. Researchers said that the colonists of the town ate a teenage girl during the winter of 1609-1610, often called as the "starving time". The conclusion comes after a detailed study of a new fossil recovered from the site.

The study was conducted by experts from Smithsonian Institution, Colonial Williamsburg and Preservation Virginia. The team studied the remains of a girl (named Jane by the researchers) of around 14 years of age who had partial chop wounds on the skull, which the researchers believe show that some people might have attempted to break her skull. Additional wounds were also found at the back of Jane's skull. There were knife wounds along the left side of the skull and the cheek bone, evidence that her flesh was removed, according to a news release.

"The desperation and overwhelming circumstances faced by the James Fort colonists during the winter of 1609-1610 are reflected in the postmortem treatment of this girl's body. The recovered bone fragments have unusually patterned cuts and chops that reflect tentativeness, trial and complete lack of experience in butchering animal remains. Nevertheless, the clear intent was to dismember the body, removing the brain and flesh from the face for consumption," said Douglas Owsley, the division head for physical anthropology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History who presented the study findings May 1, 2013, according to a statement from Smithsonian.

The team confirmed that the remains belonged to a girl after running a series of analysis of a bone from the shin and examination of molar development. Jane's real identity is unknown, but her DNA sample has been preserved for future studies. Other data from the study site shows that Jane might have arrived in Jamestown in August 1609, a few months before the "starving time".