NHL: Fort Shantok Archaeological District

CT National Historic Landmark
Fort Shantok Archaeological District
Massapeag Side Road, Montville

I must ask up front… Should this be also categorized as an outdoor museum? A few years ago when I was working on my giant museum list, I apparently thought so. Then I (finally) found the place, spent some time here and decided against it.

So it will gain its place on CTMQ in the National Historic Landmarks section with a quickie page in the cemeteries section. But don’t let that dissuade you – not only is Fort Shantok a historically interesting place with lots of interpretive signs, it’s a former state park and a current attractive park for picnicking, walking or rain dancing.

Oh, I’m so insensitive.

I can’t remember how I ended up down in Montville, but I know I had Damian with me and I know he was out cold sleeping in the car as I poked around. (Don’t worry, I never lost sight of the car and when Damian sleeps, he’s o-u-t, OUT.)

This place is cool – and sacred to the Mohegans. So it’s nice that the state sold (yes, “sold” for 3 million bucks, not gave) back the former Fort Shantok State Park to the Mohegans in the early 1990’s. Officially, the area is now known as Shantok, Village of Uncas and is half day park and half burial ground/ceremony site. Best of all, it’s free and open to the public. Even, apparently, during ceremonies.

For NHL purposes, it’s an archaeological district. It is one of the few places where Native American ceramics have been preserved in southern New England in any state, due to the area’s highly acidic soil, climate, and colonial construction. These ceramics have been used in an attempt by archeologists to determine migration patterns in local New England tribes, such as the Pequots. So says Wikipedia anyway.

Ok, but really, what was this place? A fort? A burial ground? What?

Fort Shantok was the site of the principal Mohegan settlement from 1636 to 1682 and the sacred ground of Uncas, one the most prominent and influential Mohegan leaders and statesman of his era. Originally part of Mohegan reservation lands, the property was taken by the state of Connecticut in the 20th century and Fort Shantok State Park was established. In 1995, following legal action by the tribe to recover its lands, the state returned the park to Mohegan control. The tribe now operates the area, part of its reservation, as a local park.

They left out the “the state returned the park to Mohegan control” for three million wampums part. Anyway, that paragraph didn’t answer my question. Let’s try again.

Fort Shantok represents a location of distinction to the Mohegan people, because it is the first site where they settled with Sachem Uncas in the 17th century. In addition, Fort Shantok was used as a stronghold by the Mohegan leader Uncas when fending off an attack from the Narragansetts during 1645. Although the fort was sturdy and well-defended, the attack continued until an English force led by Lt. Thomas Leffingwell provided reprovisions. At this point, the Narragansetts abandoned the siege and returned home.

Back to Rhode Island with you and your crappy beer.

Later, the fort was used as a burial ground. It contains over one hundred identified graves. There is a memorial in the shape of a wigwam known as the Leffingwell Memorial in the fort, the inscription says, “Here stood the fort of Uncas Sachem of the Mohegans and friend of the English; here in 1645 when beseiged [sic] by the Narragansetts he was relieved by the bravery of Lt. T. I. Leffingwell.”

Leffingwell’s old house across the Thames in Norwich is now a museum. Oh, and I find it odd/interesting that the main man himself, Uncas, is not buried here. He’s not too far away in Norwich and yes, I’ve been there.

My friend Johnna visited the area on a tour of her own, and her story is very different than mine – and very much worth reading (as is her whole blog). An excerpt:

“I paused on the height overlooking the river, careful not to step too close to any of the minute gravestones scattered beneath my feet. There were more recent markers, too, shiny ones with properly carved names, but I stared only at these more ancient ones. I remembered suddenly that I was standing in a sovereign nation, that this park spanned not just time but place.”

One more thing – the woods here are called the “Freedom Forest.” Just thought you’d like to know that.

CTMQ visits CT’s National Historic Landmarks
CTMQ’s CT National Designations
CTMQ’s Forts, Canals, & Dams