An archaeological study of Smith’s Island has been awarded a two-year $130,000 grant to help fund its work.

Michael Jarvis, who leads the Smith’s Island Archaeology Project, said the project had been granted a US National Endowment for the Humanities Archaeology and Ethnography Fieldwork grant.

In a recent blog post, Dr Jarvis said the grant would allow further excavations, as well as support collaboration with Historic Jamestowne and Carika Weldon, a Bermudian geneticist.

“On very short notice I have been able to gather a good crew of talented young archaeologists and archaeology students from some of the top graduate programmes in the US to continue excavations at Smallpox Bay in May and June and to also set up and operate our archaeology lab using the new BNT-ARC facility being set up in the Globe Hotel Museum cellar in St. George's,” said Dr Jarvis, who is the author of In the Eye of All Trade and Isle of Saints, Isle of Devils, books that trace the history of Bermuda from 1609 to 1983.

“With this grant we can take Bermuda archaeology to the next level as we build a 21st-century lab facility, conduct additional ground-penetrating radar surveys and embark on new zooarchaeological and ancient DNA analysis of SIAP site material.”

He wrote that in addition to the $130,000 initial grant, if the project can raise another $20,000 from external sources, the NEH would match that sum.

“This match scenario will enable funding of the envisioned GPR surveys and aDNA profiling,” Dr Jarvis said, urging readers to consider making a donation to help to support the project.

The blog post added that the SIAP was looking for adult volunteers to assist in field excavations and lab work between May 22 and June 28.

Those under the age of 18 can also participate if they are accompanied by parents or guardians.

The Smith’s Island project, assisted by the Bermuda National Trust, the St George's Foundation, Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, and the Bermuda Government, has continued since 2010.

Dr Jarvis said last year the team had a “compelling argument” that the Smith’s Island site was Bermuda’s first town.

For more information, e-mail Dr Jarvis at michael.jarvis@rochester.edu.