National Park Service Grants Awarded

Awards and Accolades

Summer of 2012: Battlefields of the Pequot War wins Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations.

Archaeology

We concluded our first full field season in the winter of 2010, and spent 2011 researching, analyzing and reporting our results regarding the Battle of Mistick Fort to the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program. A final report (hundreds of pages of artifact research, battlefield  site boundaries, battle tactics, and of interesting historic significance) is currently available for viewing at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center Library.

During the 2011-2012 field season, archaeology was ongoing at the English Retreat and Pequot Counterattack sites following the battle of Mistick Fort.

In the fall of 2012 and 2013, archaeology began at the site of Saybrook Fort in Old Saybrook, where the Pequot besieged the English colony during the winter of 1636-1637.

During 2014, archaeology continued in Groton along the withdrawal route for the English Withdrawal after the Battle of Mistick Fort.  This is a continuation of the work from 2012, and is supported again by the National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program.

Material Culture: Colonial and Native New England

The Battlefields of the Pequot War project includes material culture research of early 17th century, both Native, European and “contact” period culture. During the early 17th century, both European and Native peoples are in a period of change, adapting to one another and co-existing in unique ways. This project allows us to uncover an understanding of this new culture, including Native and English Battle Tactics & Technology.

Historiography: the Pequot War’s Primary Sources

Imagine tracking the history of your family’s heirlooms or early photos! One of our most intriguing projects is tracking the primary sources that have come down to us today from the 17th century. Primary source narratives written by 17th century figures, such as John Mason, Lion Gardiner, John Underhill and Philip Vincent have their own histories to tell.

Battlefield Sites: Post Pequot War Land Use & History

In order to complete archaeological field work on sites associated with Battlefields of the Pequot War, it is important to understand the underlying deep and complicated history associated with the area of the battlefield site. These areas are rich with artifacts not only important to understand the Pequot War, but the use of the land and people associated with it since colonial times.