Thomas Grassmann
Encyclopedia
Rev. Thomas Grassmann, OFM Conv
, (December 18, 1890 - October 1, 1970) was a Conventual Franciscan friar
and historian and archaeologist of Colonial New York
, who discovered the site of the Mohawk
American Village of Caughnawaga
near Fonda, New York
.
near Fonda, New York. This was in the vicinity of the Mohawk settlement Caughnawaga, where Catholic convert Kateri Tekakwitha had lived part of her life (1656-1680) and been baptized.
After preliminary exploration by members of the New York State Archaeological Association in the 1940s, Grassmann identified post molds of a stockade
line, pinpointing the location, and led the thorough exploration of the site of Caughnawaga from 1950 to 1956. Excavation revealed a fortified, gated wooden double stockade, called a “castle,” and 12 long houses
, covered with elm bark, inhabited by the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk from 1666-1693.
Grassmann’s book The Mohawk Indians and their Valley: Being a Chronological Documentary Record to the End of 1693 (Schenectady, N.Y., Printed by Eric Hugo Photography and Print. Co., 1969) became a noted scholarly resource on the early history of the Mohawk Nation of Colonial New York.
The Caughnawaga Castle Site was declared a National Historical Place
in 1973.
The Fonda memorial, after the beatification of Kateri by the Catholic Church in 1980, is now the National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, whose museum houses the Mohawk Caughnawaga Collection assembled by Grassmann.
Caughnawaga remains the only completely excavated Iroquois
village in North America. Grassmann was honored by burial on the site he excavated.
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
, (December 18, 1890 - October 1, 1970) was a Conventual Franciscan friar
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
and historian and archaeologist of Colonial New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
, who discovered the site of the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
American Village of Caughnawaga
Caughnawaga Indian Village Site
Caughnawaga Indian Village Site is an archaeological site located just west of Fonda in Montgomery County, New York. The site was discovered in 1950 by Rev. Thomas Grassmann and today is the only completely excavated Iroquois Indian village in the country. The Mohawk village site includes the...
near Fonda, New York
Fonda, New York
Fonda is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 810 at the 2000 census. Fonda is the county seat of Montgomery County...
.
Biography
In 1938 Father Grassmann founded the Fonda Memorial of Catherine TekakwithaKateri Tekakwitha
Kateri Tekakwitha or Catherine Tekakwitha was a Mohawk-Algonquian woman from New York and an early convert to Catholicism, who has been beatified in the Roman Catholic Church.-Her life:...
near Fonda, New York. This was in the vicinity of the Mohawk settlement Caughnawaga, where Catholic convert Kateri Tekakwitha had lived part of her life (1656-1680) and been baptized.
After preliminary exploration by members of the New York State Archaeological Association in the 1940s, Grassmann identified post molds of a stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
line, pinpointing the location, and led the thorough exploration of the site of Caughnawaga from 1950 to 1956. Excavation revealed a fortified, gated wooden double stockade, called a “castle,” and 12 long houses
Native American long house
Longhouses were built by native peoples in various parts of North America, sometimes reaching over but generally around wide. The dominant theory is that walls were made of sharpened and fire-hardened poles driven into the ground and the roof consisted of leaves and grass...
, covered with elm bark, inhabited by the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk from 1666-1693.
Grassmann’s book The Mohawk Indians and their Valley: Being a Chronological Documentary Record to the End of 1693 (Schenectady, N.Y., Printed by Eric Hugo Photography and Print. Co., 1969) became a noted scholarly resource on the early history of the Mohawk Nation of Colonial New York.
The Caughnawaga Castle Site was declared a National Historical Place
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
The Fonda memorial, after the beatification of Kateri by the Catholic Church in 1980, is now the National Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, whose museum houses the Mohawk Caughnawaga Collection assembled by Grassmann.
Caughnawaga remains the only completely excavated Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
village in North America. Grassmann was honored by burial on the site he excavated.