Fort Shantok Archeological District
Encyclopedia
Fort Shantok Archeological District in Montville, Connecticut
was the site of the principal Mohegan
settlement in the seventeenth century and the sacred ground of Uncas
the Mohegan leader. Formerly a state park, the land was transferred to the Mohegans.
The fort was purchased by the State Park and Forest commission in 1930 and added to the Fort Shantok State Park, increasing the park to 160 acres. The area was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1993. And in 1994, through a land claims settlement act, the Mohegan's paid $3 million for return of the land.
The district is located within the Mohegan Indian Reservation just west of the Thames River
and south of the Mohegan Sun
casino off Route 2A
. The fort was used as a burial ground and still has few untouched graves.
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.
There is a memorial in the shape of a wigwam known as the Leffingwell Memorial in the fort, the inscription stating, "Here stood the fort of Uncas Sachem of the Mohegans and friend of the English; here in 1645 when by the Narragansetts he was relieved by the bravery of Lt. T. I. Leffingwell."
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.
Montville, Connecticut
Montville is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,546 at the 2000 census and 19,571 at the 2010 census....
was the site of the principal Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
settlement in the seventeenth century and the sacred ground of Uncas
Uncas
Uncas was a sachem of the Mohegan who through his alliance with the English colonists in New England against other Indian tribes made the Mohegan the leading regional Indian tribe in lower Connecticut.-Early life and family:...
the Mohegan leader. Formerly a state park, the land was transferred to the Mohegans.
The fort was purchased by the State Park and Forest commission in 1930 and added to the Fort Shantok State Park, increasing the park to 160 acres. The area was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1993. And in 1994, through a land claims settlement act, the Mohegan's paid $3 million for return of the land.
The district is located within the Mohegan Indian Reservation just west of the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
and south of the Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
casino off Route 2A
Route 2A (Connecticut)
Route 2A is a state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a mostly expressway alternate route of Route 2 that bypasses the downtown area of the city of Norwich and serves as the main access road to the Mohegan Sun casino....
. The fort was used as a burial ground and still has few untouched graves.
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.
There is a memorial in the shape of a wigwam known as the Leffingwell Memorial in the fort, the inscription stating, "Here stood the fort of Uncas Sachem of the Mohegans and friend of the English; here in 1645 when by the Narragansetts he was relieved by the bravery of Lt. T. I. Leffingwell."
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.