Garoga Site facts for kids

The Garoga Site is an important archaeological site located near Ephratah in Fulton County, New York. It is also known by other names like Las-7 or Castle Hill. This site was once a village of the Mohawk people.

Archaeologists, like Robert E. Funk, explored this area in 1969 and 1970. They found evidence of three different Mohawk villages. The Garoga Site is one of these special places.

Discovering the Garoga Site

The Garoga Site dates back to the 16th century, which is over 400 years ago! It sits on a hilltop with a great view of Caroga Creek. This location was likely chosen for its natural defenses and access to water.

What is an Archaeological Site?

An archaeological site is a place where people lived or did things in the past. Archaeologists are like history detectives. They dig carefully to find old objects and structures. These findings help us learn about how people lived long ago.

Uncovering the Past at Garoga

The Garoga Site was first explored by Samuel Frey in the 1800s. Later, in the 1960s, William Ritchie and Robert Funk did more detailed work. They found many clues about the Mohawk village.

Homes and Defenses

Ritchie and Funk discovered at least nine longhouses in the main village area. Longhouses were large, shared homes where many families lived together. They also found a short, double palisade. A palisade was a strong fence made of tall wooden posts. It helped protect the village from enemies.

Based on their findings, experts believe that about 700 people might have lived in the Garoga village. Imagine a whole community living in these longhouses, protected by a wooden wall!

Protecting History: National Register

The Garoga Site is very important for understanding the history of the Mohawk people. Because of its historical value, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This listing helps protect the site so future generations can also learn from it.