Jamestown - proof of cannibalism?

[Guest HisG]

Scientists have revealed that they have found the first solid archaeological evidence that some of the earliest American colonists at Jamestown, Virginia, survived the harsh conditions by turning to cannibalism....

I never new they had a drought that bad.

That's sad.

[Guest HisG]

Scholars find evidence of cannibalism at US colony Jamestown

From: AAP May 02, 2013 11:34AM

Doug Owsley of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History displays the skull of "Jane of Jamestown" in Washington, Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Picture: Carolyn Kaster Source: AP

SCIENTISTS say they have uncovered evidence of cannibalism by early British settlers in America during the harsh winter of 1609-10.

For years, there have been tales of people in the first permanent English settlement in America eating dogs, cats, rats, mice, snakes and shoe leather to stave off starvation.

There were also written accounts of settlers eating their own dead, but archaeologists had been sceptical of those stories.

But now, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History and archaeologists from Jamestown, Virginia, are announcing the discovery of the bones of a 14-year-old girl that show clear signs that she was cannibalised. Evidence indicates clumsy chops to the body and head of the girl, who appears to have already been dead at the time.

Smithsonian forensic anthropologist Douglas Owsley said the human remains date back to a deadly winter known as the "starving time" in Jamestown from 1609 to 1610. Hundreds died during the period. Scientists have said the settlers likely arrived during the worst drought in 800 years, bringing severe food shortages for the 6,000 people who lived at Jamestown between 1607 and 1625.

[JTC]

Obviously cannibalism is a sin. We all know that. But to do this is cases of extreme starvation, as opposed to when other food is available are 2 different things. A case can even be made for the fact that when people go too long without the proper nutrition the brain isn't working right.

Let's just pray this doesn't happen again.

[Guest HisG]

I have heard of a story where a young engaged Christian couple Fromm the early 19th century ( I think) were on board a ship from England bound for America when the ship ended up getting into trouble and stated to sink.

A few if them managed to climb onto some wreckage, which included the young engaged Christian couple. As a couple if days went by, and hunger was fierce, the fiancé of the woman told her if he died before her, to eat him to stay alive.

Well the story goes, that he did die before her, and things got that hopeless that she did (and others) end up feeding off of him. They were eventually rescued. She wrote about this event in her journal and if I remember correctly, she was still perplexed at why it had turned out the way it did.

Interesting story but harrowing

[gnomonist]

That's just terrible if it was true!

[revolutionist90]

It gives me some sense of pride for the people who escaped religious tyranny for freedom on a totally different continent.

[caviezelfan]

I am a native of Virginia; learned all about Jamestown when I was in school, but never knew about any cannibalism. Wow, you sure learn something new every day.

[other one]

Hummm..... does the Bible actually tell us that if we are in a situation where we're starving and are going to die that we could not chow down on Uncle Fred if he should die. I do know that we are not to murder, but I can't think of a place where we should not try and survive..... While the thought is totally repulsive, I've learned in my 65 years to be very careful with that word "never".

[Guest]

There

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Genesis 9:1

Is Something

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. Genesis 9:2-4

Special About That Race Called Mankind

And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. Genesis 9:5-6

I Think

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:26-27