Gungywamp
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Gungywamp is an archaeological site in Groton, Connecticut consisting of artifacts dating from 2000-770 BC, a stone circle, Native American and colonial structure remains. [1] Among multiple structural remains, of note is a stone chamber featuring an astronomical alignment during the equinoxes.
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[edit] Overview
The 100 acre site consists of multiple elements covering a broad range of time. There are remains of houses and potential cloth and iron processing sites. There are multiple stone chambers currently believed to be root cellars, two of which are completely intact. Says Connecticut State Archaeologist Nicholas Bellantoni, "The thing that's unique at Gungywamp is that there are so many of them."[2]
One of these "root cellars", also known as the "calendar chamber", has an astronomical feature where an inner alcove is illuminated during the equinoxes by the alignment of a hole in the west wall, through which the sun shines upon a lighter stone on the opposite side, radiating illumination within the smaller, beehive shaped chamber.[1]
Somewhat removed from the structures, there is a stone circle, actually consisting of two circles of stones, one within the other, over ten feet in diameter. The outermost ring is made up of twelve stones worked to be curved. It is suspected by archaeologists to have been a mill.[2][3]
Even farther away there is a row of low standing stones, lined up in a north-south facing, one of which features an etched image of a bird with outstretched wings.[1]
[edit] Artifacts
Native American artifacts include arrowheads, stone flakes and pottery fragments. Colonial artifacts include pottery, china, buttons, coins, bottle and window glass, utensils, tobacco pipes, bricks and animal bones. There have been no artifacts found associated with the stone chambers to give any indication of their purpose.[1]
[edit] Controversy
Many theories have been suggested as to the people who may have constructed the various unique features. Research in the 1960s convinced many that Irish monks may have been involved, and therefore it is evidence of earlier European settlement of the Americas.[2] Other theories include construction by slaves in colonial times, or previously by Native Americans such as the Pequot or Mohegan tribes.[1]
Even the origin of the name "Gungywamp" is open to interpretation: ancient Gaelic gives, "church of the people" while Algonquin combines "all powerful" (Gunche) with "white" (wamp).[2]
