Structure 1 is the only complete building excavated to date that can be attributed to the James Fort period. The "footprint" of the structure is located 11 feet behind the south palisade line. The remains indicate a very crude structure typical of the early colonial period in Virginia. A method of "earthfast" or "post in ground" construction was used. This type of building has it's main upright support posts sunk directly into the ground rather than being built into a more substantial foundation. All that is left of structure 1 are the postholes, stains in the soil where the posts have rotted in the ground over the last four centuries. The random placement of the posts as well as the remains of unhewn posts could indicate "cratchet" construction.