The Farmington Valley CT Heritage Network (farmingtonvalleyctheritage.org) is pleased to present a lecture with Nicholas F. Bellantoni, Ph.D., Emeritus Connecticut State Archaeologist. Bellantoni will be at the Stanley-Whitman House, 37 High Street, Farmington, on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. to talk about the sensational discovery in Farmington in the summer of 1913, and to share exciting recent findings about the mastodon fossil. Admission is $5 per person, payable in advance or at the door.
The summer of 1913 was hot and dry. To divert water from a nearby mountain swamp to the Hill-Stead Farm in Farmington, workers excavated a channel down to the farm’s tilled fields. In the process, they encountered what they thought were thick tree roots, and were about to axe through them when a supervisor realized that the obstacle was bone.
Geologists at Yale University were contacted, and it was soon revealed that the workers had discovered the fossil remains of a two-thirds complete mastodon dated to the state’s post-glacial past. To add to the story, a new archaeological site dating to over 12,000 years ago presents some exciting new scientific information. Dr. Bellantoni will discuss the findings and recent radiocarbon dating of the mastodon fossil.
Proceeds from the program benefit The Farmington Valley CT Heritage Network whose mission is to enhance appreciation of the rich history of Connecticut’s Farmington Valley by promoting collaboration and communication among heritage groups and raising cultural awareness through programming and tours.