Researchers’ work to uncover Bermuda’s colonial history has been highlighted in a cover story for December’s SmithsonianMagazine.

The article, written by Andrew Lawler, takes an in-depth look at the story of the island’s colonisation and the work of archaeologist Michael Jarvis to uncover the first settlement on Smith’s Island.

“For the past 14 years, Dr Jarvis, a historian and archaeologist at the University of Rochester in New York, has led excavations in Bermuda seeking to uncover the secrets of its neglected colonial history,” the piece said.

“Nobody has done more to shed light on the island's important role in fostering the growth of Britain’s overseas realm and its American spin-off.

“Now he is confident he has located its first substantial settlement. His findings are exciting those who research Europe’s colonisation of the New World, given how rare it is to uncover remnants of such an early English community in the Americas.

“Mark Horton, a British archaeologist digging for remnants of the failed 1587 Roanoke colony on the North Carolina coast, hails it as ‘a truly significant discovery’ that will ‘greatly help in understanding early 17th-century settlement — not only in Bermuda, but at Jamestown, in New England and across the Caribbean’.”

The Smith’s Island Archaeology Project, which explores Bermuda’s history through excavation, was launched in 2010 to study the colony established by the passengers of the Plough after they arrived in July 1612.

While the colonists soon moved to St George’s, Dr Jarvis and his team have uncovered post holes used by colonists to make shelters on Smith’s Island, along with pieces of pottery and fish bones.

However, a lack of cahow bones has suggested that the colonists moved to St George’s before the birds returned to the island in the autumn of 1612.

The article said that the researchers had identified two structures on the island, with the larger stretching 16ft by at least 30ft.

“As many as ten private dwellings would have made up the bulk of the town,” the article said.

“So far, a scatter of other post holes suggests the remains of at least three or four.

“In future digging seasons, Dr Jarvis hopes to create a map of streets, lanes and structures to flesh out the size and orientation of the settlement.”

Dr Jarvis told The Royal Gazette he was thrilled that the work bringing attention to Bermuda’s unique history and foundational role in the English Atlantic expansion had been highlighted in such a respected national magazine.

He said: “The one thing I wish the story included was more recognition of the 200-plus students, Bermudian volunteers and supporters, and fellow archaeologists who made these discoveries possible.

“The Bermuda National Trust, Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, St George’s Foundation, St George’s Historical Society, Spurling and Cook families, National Museum of Bermuda, and Bermuda Government departments of parks, culture, and environmental and natural resources have all vitally contributed to SIAP over its 15-year campaign to shed light on Bermuda’s early settlement and maturation.”