2011 Summer Archaeology Field Schools

This summer two University of Connecticut Archaeology Field Schools, Battlefield and Prehistoric, were hosted at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

The Battlefield Archaeology Field School students, taught by Kevin McBride, Jacqueline Veninger, and David Naumec, researched and excavated several King Philip's War (1675-1676) battlefield sites. The students excavated at the Denison Homestead in Mystic, CT, the possible site of a stockade and military encampment of Connecticut forces led by Captain George Denison during the war.

The Battlefield students also worked with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission, the Blackstone Valley Historical Society of Lincoln, RI, and the Narragansett Indian Tribe to complete initial testing at a Rhode Island King Philip's War battlefield site. On the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, the students helped survey the peripheral area of Monhantic Fort, a known King Philip's War-era site.

The Prehistoric Field School was taught by Zac Singer, a 2nd year graduate student at the University of Connecticut, with the help of assistants Michelle Pope and John Kelly. The students had the opportunity to excavate on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation at site 72-269, where they recovered traces of a possible Terminal Archaic site. The students also spent time excavating site 72-52A, furthering the search for Paleo-Indian activity where previous surveys uncovered a chert endscraper and spurred graver. Students also learned from guest lecturers Brian Jones, a flintknapping Tim Ives, and Dan Forrest.

Both Field Schools spent two beautiful days of excavations on Block Island, assisting with surveys near the site of Fort Island.

Battlefields of the Pequot War Project News

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center continues its endeavors in the Battlefields of the Pequot War project, as they were recently awarded funding from the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program for the education and preservation of the Battle of Mystic Fort, and to begin surveys at the Retreat from Mystic Fort beginning at the conclusion of 2011 and continuing through 2012. (Visit the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program by clicking: National Battlefield Projects to read more about the program and other interesting national battlefield projects that are underway.)

Currently, the staff is completing the documentation of Saybrook Fort, once located in present day Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Meetings with landholders in the Saybrook Point area will commence this fall to request permissions for field work in the projected area. Field work results have also been completed from the Battle of Mystic Fort, where artifacts and information gleaned from the primary sources of the battle yielded surprising revelations and further detail than ever known before. (Visit: Mystic Fort Battle for detailed information, images, and in upcoming weeks, a final technical report of the Battle of Mystic Fort.)

Many thanks to the Yankee Territory Coinshooters metal detecting club. Without their help, the Battlefields of the Pequot War excavations would not have been successful.