t 5 inches square by 3/8-inch thick. The edges
are beveled, permitting them to be set very close together at the glazed
surface. The attractively decorated tiles added a touch of beauty to a
few Jamestown interiors.

ROOFING MATERIALS

Four kinds of roofing materials have been excavated: Plain, flat,
earthenware tiles; curved earthenware pantiles; slate; and wooden
shingles. The plain tiles were made in Jamestown brick kilns, and it is
possible that some of the S-curved red pantiles were also made locally.
Slate was brought over from England, whereas most of the shingles were
rived from native cedar and oak logs. Other materials used in roofing
included bark, marshgrass and reeds (thatch), and boards. Sod appears to
have been used on some of the very early houses.

LIME

Lime for mortar, plaster, and ornamental plaster was made in crude lime
kilns at Jamestown from calcined oyster shells. The oyster shells came
from the James River.

[Illustration: A WROUGHT-IRON WINDOW CASEMENT UNEARTHED NEAR AN EARLY
17TH-CENTURY BUILDING SITE.]

[Illustration: WALL OR FIREPLACE TILES FOUND AT JAMESTOWN WHICH WERE
MADE IN HOLLAND. THE BLUE DESIGNS AND PICTURES WERE PAINTED ON A WHITE
BACKGROUND.]

[Illustration: KINDS OF ROOFING MATERIALS EXCAVATED INCLUDE FLAT TILES
(SHOWN HERE), CURVED PANTILES, SLATE, AND SHINGLES.]

[Illustration: ORNAMENTAL PLASTER WAS USED IN A FEW BUILDINGS FOR
ENHANCING THE BEAUTY OF BOTH THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR.]

[Illustration: THE INTERIOR OF A SMALL JAMESTOWN HOUSE, ABOUT 1650.
ALTHOUGH THE PAINTING IS CONJECTURAL, MANY ITEMS SHOWN--POTTERY,
GLASSWARE, FIREPLACE TOOLS, AND KITCHEN ACCESSORIES--WERE UNEARTHED ON
THIS HISTORIC ISLAND. (Painting by Sidney E. King.)]

PLASTER AND MORTAR

Plaster and mortar have been found at Jamestown in abundance. It appears
that the majority of brick houses and many frame structures had
plastered walls and ceilings after 1635. Some plaster found had been
whitewashed, while other plaster bore its natural whitish-gray color.
Mortar was found wherever brick foundations were located. The plaster
and mortar used at Jamestown was made from oystershell lime, sand, and
clay.

ORNAMENTAL PLASTERWORK

Ornamental plaster was found in a few of the excavations. The
plasterwork was done in raised ornamental designs used for enhancing the
beauty of both the interior and exterior of a building. Designs that
have been found include Roman numerals, letters, mottos,