Martha et al.:
One thing I am curious about is timing of the possible cannibalism.
Is the working supposition that the girl died of natural causes and was
eaten post-mortem?
Or does the working research group have reason to believe that she was
murdered (or perhaps helped along to her death after sustaining some illness
or injury) for her flesh?
I haven't seen anything in the mainstream news accounts that asks these
questions, perhaps because they're too disturbing. But as scholars,
researchers and historians (professionals or amateurs), we must confront
these questions.
Many thanks.
T. Katheder (descendant of Robert Beheathland, one of the fortunate few who
survived, probably because he seemed to be inseparable from Capt. John
Smith).
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martha Katz-Hyman
Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 1:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] The Starving Time
Craig, it's not incredible that the physical remains were just discovered
because the excavation process is so methodical and, when you're out there
and have to interpret while you work, it takes even longer. Members of the
list might want to look at the Preservation Virginia website page that has
more details.
https://www.historicjamestowne.org/jane/jane.php
Note that her remains were found only last year, and that it takes time to
do the conservation and analysis, plus make sure that everything is as
airtight as you can make it before announcing the discovery to the public.
I've found many of the comments very off-putting, but I think that's the way
we deal with subjects with which we're very uncomfortable. Humor, of
whatever type, diffuses the discomfort. I choose to think about how terrible
that time must have been and how few the choices were that forced those
still alive in 1609-1610 to make this decision.
Martha Katz-Hyman
Curator
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
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