Scientists at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History studied the skeleton of a young boy who could be among the earliest European settlers to reach the New World, a find that has drawn interest from researchers and the public alike, as reported by Live Science. The remains date from roughly four centuries ago and offer a rare glimpse into the lives of those who crossed the Atlantic during the earliest waves of colonization.
Experts estimate the boy was between fourteen and sixteen years old when he arrived in what is now Maryland, likely in the 1630s. This places him in the first significant influx of settlers following the 1620 arrival of the Mayflower and its passengers. The evidence suggests he may have entered colonial life as a contract servant, a status that could require years of service in exchange for the chance to claim land later on. There is also a possibility that he traveled without his family, pursuing opportunities or survival in a challenging colonial environment.
The teenage traveler did not live long in the American colonies. His leg suffered an injury that would not heal, and the path of his life was cut short soon afterward. His body was discovered buried in a meadow within a small city that lies within the District of Columbia, a location historically connected to Maryland’s early capital. The grave presented a stark scene: the body appeared to have been laid to rest without ceremonial rites or a shroud, suggesting a quick or unceremonious interment rather than a formal burial.
Two years later, archaeologists uncovered another significant find at the same site: the remnants of a fort built by recent colonists, revealing how the landscape of early American settlement was changing as people established footholds across the region. Among the artifacts recovered were pieces that helped illuminate daily life for these first arrivals, including a nearly 400-year-old silver coin bearing the portrait of King Charles I of England, a visible reminder of the broader political ties that shaped colonial endurance and identity. These discoveries together contribute to a more nuanced picture of early colonial life, where contracts, family formation, and material culture intersected with the harsh realities of frontier settlement. The ongoing research continues to refine historians’ understanding of who these young settlers were, how they lived, and what their presence meant for the communities they joined. Attribution: Smithsonian research and supporting reports from Live Science provide context for these interpretations and highlight how modern science can illuminate colonial histories.