Historic Jamestowne is the actual archaeological site of the 1607 English settlement — the real one, on the original island, where ongoing excavations have spent three decades uncovering the foundations of James Fort. The Archaearium museum displays the most striking finds, including the skeletons of the colonists and the famous "Jane" remains that confirmed cannibalism during the Starving Time of 1609–10.
The site is run jointly by the National Park Service and the Jamestown Rediscovery project. Walk the fort outlines, the brick foundations of the early church, and the path along the river where the colonists landed. The interpretive panels are excellent and the recent finds are sobering — this was a desperate place. Allow at least half a day; pair with Jamestown Settlement for a contrasting experience.