Smith’s Island Talk and Boat Trip – July 20th & July 22nd
All are welcome to attend Professor Michael Jarvis’s update on the University of Rochester Archaeology Field School’s work on Smith’s Island where, investigations continue into the early inhabitation of this island in St George’s Harbour.
Professor Jarvis, whose dig is sponsored by the Bermuda National Trust, will be speaking at 7pm on Thursday, July 20 at the St George’s Heritage Centre on Penno’s Wharf.
Tickets for the talk are $20 for BNT and St George’s Foundation members and $25 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10.
Professor Jarvis, the author of Bermuda history book “In the Eye of All Trade” and a leading expert on Bermuda history and buildings, has been conducting archaeological field schools at Smith’s Island since 2010 – exploring remnants of settlements dating back to 1610 when survivors of the Sea Venture wreck were left in Bermuda.
Professor Jarvis will speak on the most recent digs on the Island, including progress on the 2017 Field School. This work includes:
- Completing the excavation of the artifact-rich cistern and finding a hypothesized main house,
- Greatly expanding the uncovering of the Smallpox Bay site to map what is believed to be Governor Richard Moore’s brief 1612 town; and
- Making maps and preliminary assessments of two new promising sites at the West End.
Those interested in the Smith’s Island dig will then get a chance to see the dig itself with a boat trip on Saturday, July 22. The boat will leave St George’s at 2pm. A maximum of 40 people will spend the afternoon exploring the island with Professor Jarvis and learning more about their work and their finds. Tickets for the boat trip are $30 for BNT and SGF members and $35 for non-members. Children and students may attend for $10. Tickets can be obtained by calling 236-6483 or emailing rshastri@bnt.bm.
