Connecticut’s Paleo-Indian Sites

An ancient settlement that dates back approximately 12,500 years has been discovered in Connecticut. The site was discovered during preparations for the construction of a bridge over the Farmington River in Avon. This webinar features Dr. Zachary (Zac) Singer, Research Archaeologist, Maryland Historical Trust and Dr. David Leslie, Archaeological and Historical Services, Storrs, CT. Click here for a 2-hour video of their presentation.

Dr. Singer (above, left) presented the excavations at the Templeton Paleo-Indian site in western Connecticut, and Dr. Leslie (above, right) provided an update on the Brian D. Jones Paleo-Indian site in Avon as they began their fourth year of analysis of the artifacts found there.

The Farmington Valley was originally settled by human beings more than 10,000 years ago. The Farmington River Archaeological Project has revealed remains of the villages, hunting encampments, and quarries used by these first settlers. Much in the way the police investigate the scene of a crime, archaeologists locate, recover, and examine evidence that reveals the scene of a life lived in the past.

On discovering the ancient site, archaeologists moved in and found an open fire pit and a number of posts from temporary housing, but amazingly, more than 15,000 artifacts have been discovered, most of which were ancient tools.