CWTI Reflection: Jane

I had looked at the videos and read some of the material that is available concerning the archaeological dig that excavated a kitchen that was located near the church structures at Historic Jamestowne.  I have long been intrigued with the story of a 14-year-old girl whose bones were located among the bones of animals.  Upon examining Jane's bones (They respectfully named her Jane in order to remember her humanity.), they identified knife marks, particularly on her skull, in addition to marks of trauma.

Experts confirmed that the marks are evidence of butchery, and they suppose that it supports that there was cannibalism here in the early 1600s.

Jane's skull is displayed in the museum that sits along the coast of the James River, along with a scientific reproduction that shows what her face must have looked like (See the picture, right.).  As much as I knew about Jane's story, I could not take my eyes off of her face.  I had to look into her eyes for a bit.

Jane is a testimony to my continuing message that history is ugly.  I suppose that ugliness is one of the reasons I'm interested in history.  I suppose it helps me appreciate my own time and culture.  I guess it also confirms the need for us all to learn from history.  I would hate to have to repeat some of the things I've learned.

So I stared into the eyes of a rebuilt face, and I studied the dry skull of a real human being.  I thought of the children I have taught through the years, some of who are 14 years old themselves.  I remembered my own children.  I wondered what it would take to justify cannibalizing such a weak creature.

Why was she here?  How did she get here?  Who was she?  What was her real name?  And who might she have become had she survived?