Jamestown Colony

The Jamestown Colony was the first permanent European settlement in North America. It was founded on May 14, 1607, by the Virginia Company, which was granted a charter by King James I of England to establish a colony in the Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia. In 1624, Virginia became a crown colony and Jamestown served as the capital until 1698 when it moved to Williamsburg.

Cannibalism

Research has found English settlers resorted to cannibalism during the winter of 1609 after skeletal remains exhibited markings normally found when a human body is eaten for food. A 14-year-old girl was cannibalized by Jamestown Colony settlers, according to Smithsonian researchers. The girl probably died from natural causes and was not murdered.

“Given these bones in a trash pit, all cut and chopped up, it's clear that this body was dismembered for consumption.”