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Researchers Unearth Boring Well
by Kris on 7/28/2006 (3) 
 | | Yawn. | | Richmond, Virginia – Sometime around 1600, archaeologist figure a thirsty colonist put his brass pistol on the side of a well as he pulled up some water and accidentally knocked the weapon in. He probably didn't realize it at the time and was easily dispatched in a high-noon shootout when he couldn't find his weapon. That would have been a very interesting story, but this is a boring story about the well he dropped his weapon into.
To be fair, some wells can be interesting. In 1985, a well in Charleston, North Carolina rose from the ground and splashed water on unsuspecting townsfolk. And in 1996, a well in Alabama lost in the Governor's race by a very slim margin running on the Reform Party ticket But the well in this story ain't done shit and probably never will.
This boring well is over 400 years old and located at an overlooked corner of Historic Jamestowne. It's pretty average as far as wells go, made of bricks and stuff. Nothing fancy, no gold plating, no hidden compartments, no history of unprovoked violence.
Some of the items found in the bottom of this well include a Scottish pistol, a man's leather shoe, and a small plaque reading "James Towne". Items that weren't found included gold doubloons, alien technology, a creepy zombie girl, and Jimmy Hoffa.
"We found some really boring shit down there," explained William Kelso, director of archaeology for the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. The group owns approximately 22 acres (8.8 hectares) of Jamestown Island, including the southwestern corner where researchers made this very dull discovery.
"I thought we might find something cool down there," he said. "I guess I was wrong."
Year-long commemorations are under way to mark the 400th anniversary of the English landing in 1607 and founding of Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent British settlement in America. This well and its contents will not be part of that ceremony.
Wells like this one would have been used until the water ran dry, likely due to a lack of water, then converted to colonial era dumps, Kelso said.
When asked if he regretted investigating this well, Kelso emphatically replied, "Yes".
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