Pocohontas Revealed Get the Native American side of the Jamestown story.

7:00PM Tuesday, May 8th 2007 ?   Pocohontas Revealed


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Pocahontas Revealed

Web site launch date: April 24, 2007
www.pbs.org/nova/pocahontas/

Program broadcast date: May 8, 2007

On the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, science is opening a new window on the legendary story of Pocahontas, her father Chief Powhatan, and the Englishman John Smith, one of the leaders of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Virginia archeologists have recently discovered the site of Chief Powhatan's capital, Werowocomoco, some 17 miles from Jamestown beside the York River. This is the very spot where the captive Smith had his famous life-and-death encounter with the mighty chief, in which Pocahontas begged her father to spare the Englishman's neck—or so Smith claimed. NOVA has covered the excavation of this unique site for four years and presents the first program that documents the Native American side of the Jamestown story. NOVA received extensive help from Virginia Indians in reconstructing their traditional skills and lifeways and in reenacting scenes from their historic past. "Pocahontas Revealed" brings a fascinating new perspective to the colonists' one-sided accounts of this momentous collision of cultures.

Here's what you'll find on the companion Web site:



The Producer's Story

Filmmaker Lisa Q. Wolfinger was charged with the challenging task of resurrecting Powhatan Indians and Jamestown settlers who lived four centuries ago—deerskin clothing, authentic muskets, and all. Here, she recounts the drama behind producing and directing dramatic recreations for the program.



John Smith's Bold Endeavor

In this interview, historian David Silverman of George Washington University explains why the story of John Smith and Pocahontas was more about betrayal than romance, and how the history of early Jamestown represents European colonization of America in general.



Touching the Past

Ann Richardson, Chief of the Rappahannocks, is the first woman to lead a tribe in Virginia since the 1700s. In this audio interview, she talks about the significance of archeologists' efforts to uncover the site where Pocahontas and her people once lived.



Images of a Legend

For 400 years, playwrights and moviemakers, painters and sculptors, toy manufacturers and tobacco sellers have portrayed Pocahontas, shaping her appearance and narrative to suit their own purposes. Drawing from an exhibit at the Virginia Historical Society, this slide show examines a dozen of these representations.



The Science of Jamestown

This time line explores the most significant archeological and other scientific findings made at the sites of Jamestown and Werowocomoco in recent years, set against the backdrop of historical record.

Also Links & Books and a Teacher's Guide