Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Secrets of the Dead: What Really Happened at Jamestown?  (This is the link you will go to!!!)

 

Using the PBS site above you will watch 4 short videos about hardships faced by the Jamestown colonists. YOU may NEED to download Realplayer to view. IF you do, go to the HELP link. The Help link is located on each of the video clip pages. There you can download.

 

 Here is what you need to do:

 

Watch Video clip A - Starvation in Jamestown

• What did the colonists expect to do for food? Why didn't that work?
• Describe some of the archaeological details that support starvation.
• How is dendrochronology (the science of tree-ring dating) used to support the starvation theory?

Watch Video clip B - Disease at Jamestown

• What was the most likely source of illness for the settlers?
• What historical evidence supports illness as a major cause of death?
• What kind of scientific evidence is there in support of this theory?
• What are the two diseases that were most likely prevalent at Jamestown?  

Don't do videos C-1 and C-2, okay? okay.
Watch Video clip D-1 - Poisoning at Jamestown????

• How did Hancock find evidence to support his theory?
• What would have been the source of arsenic for the colonists?
• How did Hancock use science to support his work?
• Does Hancock provide a motive for poisoning?

Watch Video clip D-2 - Seriously? Poisoning????

• What is necessary for certain tests of arsenic?
• Why is the presence of arsenic in the bones considered inconclusive?
• How does Hancock expect to prove his ideas?