Ivory Compass Sundial Found in Jamestown Cellar

This compass and sundial combination would have been used to tell time in the early 17th century. It would have been calibrated for a particular latitude where it was intended to be used.

[@cweefy]

these are the people who should be in the news. they seem to me to be making substantially productive careers doing something that has probably been a lifelong passion . cheers to you !

[@justdoingitjim7095]

And all this time I thought all sundials were universal. I didn't know they were made differently to suit the different latitudes!

[@randomvintagefilm273]

That was a beautiful piece, what a find! I bet old Hans Miler never thought one of his sundials would end up having such historic significance!

[@JamestownRediscovery]

Yes absolutely, it would be a fun project. Some one should sell kits that students could put together. This would teach kids about directions, time, latitudes, and the angle of the sun all at once.

[@rec1412]

Wow! The discoveries here are so fantastic!

[@jerryjones188]

So, that compass may be the very one Captain John Smith showed to Opechancanough when he was captured by the Indians? Or did Smith lose that piece since he was a prisoner of the Indians? Wonderful find! Awesome work, historians!

[@catman8670]

Amazing and fascinating objects

[@JamestownRediscovery]

I added a link in the description field with a little more info. Hope it is helpful, but it may not answer everything you are curious about.

[@hystericallycorrect]

Amazing!! another great discovery by this fabulous team of archeologists....it has been such fun to watch the rediscovery unfold. you guys rock!!

[@debbiramsey4603]

One of my relatives landed in 1619 in James Town. I know his name and ship and captain ship.

[@SongOfSongsOneTwelve]

Amazing discovery!

[@gwaine]

1080p! Nice Danny. Wish I was there. Keep up the good work.

[@tracymcelhenie3988]

That was explained perfectly.

[@ridgerunner4273]

I have enjoyed these videos emensly, but this was a very cool how to kind of video. Thank you for showing how that was done.

[@georgerobartes2008]

53° N Boston Lincolnshire England . East coast port .Home of Calvinists , Pilgrims and non conformists and departure point for many under James 1st rule who wanted to emigrate including the Mayflower party in 1620 . Nuremburg was not only a town of mathematical instrument makers but notable gunmakers and many of them during early modern history .

[@klaus3794]

Very nice.

[@greyborzoi]

Where can you get the latitude converter ruler? I scoured the internet but can’t find one.

[@juliaberg5626]

Wow, really good work! Keep making videos!

[@colbysmith447]

also, how would he have calculated and laid out the lines on this piece?

[@colbysmith447]

Michael Lavin, question, where can I find a latitude scale like you used in this video, and how does one use it?

[@JamestownRediscovery]

I'll ask him when I see him in the morning, thanks

[@colbysmith447]

Hi, any update on the latitude scale? I know the latitude and inclination scales are logarithms, and that I there is a relationship to the hour scale. I'm just not sure mathematically what that relationship is.

[@catspaw3815]

That's neat

[@debbiramsey4603]

Michael. Mary would you consider an old guys thoughts. I have super enlarged the very center circle of the dial. I've color reversed it and it's probably my imagining but could what I think is i see there. If Nuremberg and Hans the big center hole then almost not quite due west there is places that seem to be white hollow scratches and places a bit north of it like land in America, you can almost see areas like odd areas that could be perhaps into the land south of Europe. Down into Africa. I'm sure I'm likely imagining but I can't believe a such a Mapmaker couldn't hid into the work far more than it appears. It needs to be cleaned perhaps or color reversed again. Perhaps lands far more of the world into beyond the continental us might could be there. I'm sure like myself you know very old maps and the far distortions. Hans wouldnt. Have,made mistakes. I just think there's more in his Work than we first realize. For your consideration. Thank you for your time and everyone's skills.

[@pelicanbeater6100]

Yes this stuff rocks pretty highly. But what kindof paychecks do they get or are they all rich already? Maybe they put in their 40-55hrs m-f then come out all fresh on saturday afternoons. Thats commitment!

[@raywillette4213]

Are you sure about it being calibrated to 53 third latatude?

[@karenstein1490]

This vid lacks a lot. How bout speculation why they threw it away? Was it valuable ? Hello. More info !!!

[@firefighterstation3]

I didn’t know Joseph Gordon Levitt was an archeologist

[@DIYoutdoors]

Would it be possible to recreate that item out of wood

[@CyberAndy_]

why does that lady and the other lady from the other videos always sound so pissed off when she talks?

[@ellen4956]

She had to stop digging so she could explain where exactly they were digging and what was found, because it was an interesting find that will go to the museum.

[@nigel900]

After presenting this interesting video to public schoolers, they complained to the absence of Twerking, Thrusting, F-Bombing, CGI and Gangsta Rap theme music....

[@ballyantonia]

So,Nigel you’re on the front lines,as a teacher. Go forth and inspire.Turn it around.

[@nigel900]

(@Jane Causey) It’s certainly the “front lines”... when students armed with cell phone video recorders wait for you to make one fatal mistake, parents threatening lawsuits and jail time if you discipline their baby... and teachers unions demanding you stay on a “non white privilege” script.