Discoveries Unveiled Beneath Connecticut Town Green
In an intriguing turn of events, archaeologists working in a historic area of Connecticut have uncovered the well-preserved remains of an 18th-century bakery. This site, located in Lebanon, is an unusual piece of Revolutionary War history.
The bakery was, interestingly enough, utilized to bake bread for the French army, who supported the American cause during the Revolutionary War. The excavation took place at the Lebanon Town Green, where the find was made earlier in June.
Photographs from the site reveal the exposed foundations of the baking house along with various smaller artifacts. Despite the limited number of items uncovered, there was one particularly significant discovery. Sarah P. Sportsman, an archaeologist with the state of Connecticut, noted that a burnt flint was found on the last day of excavation.
“Gunflint was a piece of stone used in flintlock guns like those used during the Revolutionary War,” she explained, adding that this stone was crucial for creating the spark needed to ignite gunpowder for firing weapons.
Most of the other artifacts were, well, less remarkable and seemed to reflect different periods in the area’s past. Sportsman mentioned that they found pottery and glass shards from the late 19th century at the topsoil, hinting at some landscaping activities over the years.
She added that, upon digging a bit deeper, she unearthed fragments of pottery from the late 18th century and even parts of animal bones—elements that provide a nice glimpse into history, even if the overall quantity of artifacts was relatively low.
Interestingly, historians have long believed that a French oven was situated on the town green, and a plaque commemorating its location has existed for some time. Previous amateur digs in 1896 had reportedly revealed masonry and bricks, but without any documentation like maps or photographs, this current excavation marks the first modern archaeological study of the bakery.
“We hope additional testing in the fall will reveal some of those features and improve our understanding of the site,” she said, emphasizing that they were uncertain if the foundations had been damaged during the 1896 excavations. Fortunately, it seems they remained largely intact, covered under heavy stone rubble.
Sportsman remarked on the construction of the bakery, suggesting that it was meant to be somewhat “semi-permanent,” given that local encampments lasted for extended periods. “The foundations aren’t very strong, and you don’t see any well-constructed masonry,” she noted.
Moreover, the presence of stone and brick structures indicates a composite construction in that area of the green, as revealed by ground-penetrating radar surveys conducted before the excavation began.
This bakery excavation is part of a larger project in Lebanon, coinciding with the town’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Sportsman pointed out that various sites related to 18th-century militia training and possible French hospital locations have been identified, highlighting the significant Revolutionary War activities in Lebanon.
She concluded with a reminder of the cooperation among allies, stating, “This is an important reminder that America’s victory required significant assistance from our French allies, and such partnerships have always made us stronger.”
