This field season has been very busy for the archaeologists at the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation. After a winter of sorting flotation samples, artifact inventorying, and report writing, the crew was out in the field in late April.

The first project was a Phase I survey of shovel test pits along a gas pipeline that will be laid down close to Foxwoods Casino. The pipeline will impact a previously identified site, Sandy Hill (72-97). Immediately following the survey, units were laid out and excavated. Large features have been identified, and their purpose is still under investigation. Smaller features with large quantities of calcined bone or charred wood have also been uncovered. Numerous artifacts have been found including diagnostic projectile points (Merrimack and Susquehanna), hammerstones, and pestles.

In May and June the Museum hosted several groups of middle school and high school students. Students participated in the excavation of two middens at Monhantic Fort (72-91), learned about botanical analysis in the laboratory, and toured the Museum.

The UConn field school was held on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation. Four students and two instructors excavated a trench through a supposed root cellar (72-278) and investigated portions of the Sandy Hill site.

In July a group of FOSA volunteers joined us at Sandy Hill for a day of digging (after a brief tour of the Pequot Museum's laboratory facilities). A lot of dirt was moved, and a great time was had by the volunteers and crew members. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Excavations briefly took place on site 72-277. This site was the focus of the fall 2008 season and was not completed before the ground froze. This fall the crew hopes to finish this site and a couple others that will be impacted by the construction of a water park.

The fall of 2009 is likely to include metal detecting and test pit excavations in areas of Mystic as part of an ongoing investigation of sites related to the Pequot War of 1637. This project is funded by a National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program grant.