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Archaeology in Rocky Hill
People have been living in the area we know now as Rocky Hill for thousands of years. Many souls have lived their lives and built their homes and industries here. We know this because of the archaeological evidence found at a variety of locations in Rocky Hill.
There are five separate sites in Rocky Hill that have been excavated for archaeological study. Each of these locations has provided a glimpse into the lives of those people who came before us. A presentation with additional information on these sites can be found by clicking here.
With the help of professional archaeologist Scott Speal, we are actively researching and cataloging our large pre and post colonial collections. Information on the five sites can be found below.
We are in the process of cataloging and researching our collection so that we can learn more about the details of our past . Our long-range plan is to catalog and photograph the entire collection and make it available electronically on our website. This will make the history of Rocky Hill more available to you from the comfort of your home. If you are interested in this project and would like to help volunteer
click here.
The Archaeological sites
Colonial Drive
Morgan Site and Trench
Colonial Drive
The area around Colonial Drive was once a large pre-colonial village. More than 5,000 artifacts have been recovered from this area, some from 7,000 BCE.
Lone Pine
Morgan Site and Trench
Colonial Drive
Lone Pine is a pre-colonial site in the area we now know as Quarry Park. This was a basalt tool making site circa 6,000 BCE.
Morgan Site and Trench
Morgan Site and Trench
Butler-Sugden Shear Factory
One of Connecticut's earliest known agricultural communities was uncovered at the Morgan Site and Trench in the Rocky Hill Great Meadows. Radiocarbon dated artifacts from this collection go back to 1284 CE.
Butler-Sugden Shear Factory
Butler-Sugden Shear Factory
Butler-Sugden Shear Factory
The Butler Sugden Dig uncovered artifacts
from 1677 to 1868 of a people who constructed a water power industrial park at what we know now as Dividend Pond Trails.
Grimes Road
Butler-Sugden Shear Factory
Grimes Road
This post-colonial location on Grimes Road was once the site of the Bailey Road Poor Farm.
Colonial Drive Site
The Current Location
The current boundaries of the site are the Silas Deane Highway to the west, Old Main Street to the east, and Parsonage Street to the south. Much of the site is where Parson's Village is currently located.
The Archaeology Work Site
A surface study of the area behind Carl Warner's house on 431 Old Main Street was performed in 1930. The area was an open field at the time.
Artifacts Found
Over 5000 artifacts were found at the site. Many of these are projectile points (e.g., the tips of arrows or spears), with a large number of pottery fragments and tools. These artifacts are from the Early Archaic period (about 7,000 BCE). Click here to get more information of the research that the Rocky Hill Historical Society is doing with these artifacts
Lone Pine Site
The Current Location
The site is in Quarry Park. It was a basalt tool making site that was occupied from the Late Archaic Period (4000 BCE) to the Early Woodlands Period (700 BCE). The presence of hearths and stone bowls indicates that entire families probably occupied the site.
The Collectors
The two principle individuals associated with the work are Dr. Zariphes and his childhood friend, David Cooke. They were both avocational archaeologists who lived in Rocky Hill. Dr. Zariphes documented the site for the Massachusetts Archaeological Society in 1971.
Artifacts Found
The site featured refuse pits, stone hearths and caches of quartz blanks for projectile points. The artifacts recovered included:
- Stone Bowl
- Grooved Gouge
- Full Grooved Ax
- Grooved Adz
- Celt
- Pitted Stones
- Muller and Pestle
- Hammerstone
- Stem Scraper
- Stem Knife
- Flake Knife
- Drills
- Pottery
- Clay Disc
- War Club Prong
- Stem Spades
- Pendant
- Projectile Points
Morgan site and trench
The Current Location
The Morgan Site and the Morgan Trench are both located in the Rocky Hill Great Meadows. They were a Late Woodland Period (about 1000 CE) settlement located in the flood plane of the Connecticut River in Rocky Hill. It is one of Connecticut's earliest known agricultural communities, with an average radiocarbon date of 1284 CE.
The Collectors
David Cooke (see photo), an avocational archaeologist, Lucianne Lavin and a team of volunteers excavated the sites. The sites are documented in the Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of CT.
Butler-Sugden Site
The Current Location
The Butler-Sugden Shear Factory was located at what is now Dividend Pond Trails. The site was documented in the report "Dividend - Rocky Hill's First Industrial Complex."
The Collectors
June Cooke (see photo), an avocational archaeologist, and a team of volunteers from FOSA (the Friends of the State Archaeology) excavated the site.
The Factory
William Butler and Robert Sugden established a foundry at Dividend Pond in 1854. They were pioneers in making cast iron shears (scissors) and selling them across the country. They employed 30 men and 4 women. Sugden owned 10 acres, with a dwelling, house, barn, saw mills, grist mill, the factory building and the 3 acre pond. Arson destroyed the factory on October 10, 1865. Only the dam now remains at the site.
The Site Today
June’s research led to the creation of Dividend Pond Trails and Archaeological District in 2012. Additional information of Dividend Pond can be found here.
Grimes Road Site
The Current Location
The site is located at Grimes Road.
The Site
This house on Grimes Road was demolished in 2004. The Bailey Road Poor Farm was located at this site prior to construction of the house. The dig was led by David Cooke.