Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland is a work of scientific nonfiction written in 2009 by Sally M. Walker. Walker, who has written many scientific nonfiction books for young adults, examines case studies of archaeological finds in the Chesapeake region with the collaboration of forensic anthropologist Doug Owsley, with whom she has worked on other books. Her approach combines discussion of scientific processes with historical context, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Daily Lives of American Colonists while underscoring the importance of Connecting the Historical Record to Archaeological Evidence and The Role of Science in Understanding Human History.

Written in Bone is on many reading lists for public libraries and is listed as an American Library Association (ALA) Notable Book. It also won the Benjamin Franklin Award for independent publishers in 2010.

This guide uses the 2009 Carolrhoda Books print edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss racism and enslavement.

Summary

The narrative is separated geographically, examining the excavations at Jamestown first and then the various excavations in Maryland. Walker gives a separate narrative for each person, though similar scientific techniques feature throughout the book.