"Werowocomoco: Seat of Power" Special Exhibition Through June 30, 2011

June 4 – Helen C. Rountree, “English Myth-Making and Indian Reality: Early English Stereotypes of the Virginia Indians”

 June 18 – Martin D. Gallivan, “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power”

The Werowocomoco site is depicted in a scale model in the center of Jamestown Settlement’s “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power” exhibition. A building discovered by archaeologists at a dsitinct part of the site is thought to have been used for high-status social and ceremonial functions is included in the model and re-created on a larger scale next to it. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation photo.

A copper alloy piece, shown here rolled into a bead, found at Werowocomoco, 17th century, Europe. A large quantity of copper recovered from the site is of European manufacture and has the same chemical composition as similar copper pieces found at Jamestown. Courtesy of Robert F. and C. Lynn Ripley.

John Smith’s Map of Virginia, 1612, shows the location of Werowocomoco and features in the upper left corner an illustration of Powhatan at Werowocomoco. Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation collection.

Black-on-White painted effigy vessel in the shape of a bird, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, A.D. 900-1050. Private collection.

Black-on-White painted pottery, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, A.D. 900-1050.Private collection.

A statue of Powhatan in “Werowocomoco: Seat of Power” special exhibition at Jamestown Settlement leads to exhibit cases filled with artifacts from Werowocomoco.  Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation photo.

A ceremonial mask made from upper jaw of a bear and a hide-scraping tool made from a bear long bone, late Woodland period. Bears are a symbol of power for many American Indian cultures. Courtesy of the Historic Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park, Tazewell, Va.