Archaeologists dig up Conn. yards for artifacts from centuries-old war between settlers, tribe

Conn. land dug up for items from tribe-settler war

MYSTIC, Conn. — Musket balls, arrowheads and other artifacts from a battle that helped shape colonial history are being coaxed from the Connecticut soil after almost 400 years.

It’s part of a project to map battlefields of the Pequot War.

The powerful Pequot tribe and English settlers clashed from 1636 to 1638. Now, archaeologists are researching battle sites in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York.

They’ve already found many items from the battles, including the Mystic massacre in which at least 400 Pequots died when their fort was burned.

Historians say that battle was a turning point, both because it nearly wiped out the powerful Pequots and because it warned other tribes that the English would destroy entire villages if provoked.