A Trip To This Little Known Ancient Ruin In Connecticut Is Truly One In A Million

As a New England state with tons of history, it's no surprise that Connecticut is rich in historical artifacts. We were a member of the 13 original colonies and even had a Revolutionary War battle occur in New London. But did you know there are historical attractions in Connecticut that are even older than that? Gungywamp is an archaeological site in Connecticut that has rich Native American and Colonial history.

Gungywamp is a 100-acre site located in Groton. Not a lot of details are known about the area, but there are artifacts dating back to 2000-770 BC.

These ancient woods look like the land that time forgot!

It is unknown what purpose is served by these stone circles that lie at the center of Gungywamp.

It is thought that it could have been a bark mill used in leather making.

The origin of the site's unusual name is unknown as well. It may be from an ancient Native American language.

Suggested meanings are varied, and range from "church of the people" to "swampy place."

Gungywamp is home to multiple stone chambers that are thought to be root cellars, likely constructed in Colonial times.

Interestingly, the stone chambers are similar to some from Medieval Ireland. Some scholars believe that the chambers could have even been used by Irish monks. Some believe they are evidence of pre-Columbian European settlement in the area, though this is a hotly-contested theory amongst historians.

One of the stone chambers is illuminated during the equinoxes through a hole in the west wall.

This is such a fascinating place. Many Native American and Colonial artifacts have been unearthed here.

Gungywamp is located on private property. The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center holds regularly-scheduled hikes to the area. You can check out a calendar of upcoming tours on the nature center's website, or find more information via the virtual tour.