All that remains of the palisade fence at James Fort are stains in the soil. In the spring of 1607 the fort walls were constructed of logs set upright into a narrow slot trench. The areas where the slot trench disturbed the natural clay subsoil showed up as a dark stain in the clay. Further excavation revealed the postmolds themselves. Every 20 feet along the south palisade wall there is a larger support or buttress post (under Nicks trowel). This as well as the depth of the trench would indicate that the palisade was a full scale fortification rather than a breastwork or garden fence.

By 1609 James Fort was "reduced" to a five sided fortification. Because of the natural land form the fort could have only been extended to the east. An extension palisade was unearthed at a point where the east curtain wall joins the bulwark. It is very likely that this 60 foot section of palisade line is part of that construction.