Roaring Brook sites facts for kids

The Roaring Brook I Site and Roaring Brook II Site are two special places in East Haddam, Connecticut. They are important because they are archaeological sites, which means they hold clues about people who lived there a very long time ago. These sites date back to the Middle to Late Woodland Period. In 1987, both sites were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.

What is the Woodland Period?

The Woodland Period was a time in North American history when Native American groups lived in the area. This period lasted for many hundreds of years. People during this time learned new ways to live. They started to make pottery and grow some of their own food. They also built mounds for burials and other purposes. The Roaring Brook sites show us how people lived during this important time.

The Roaring Brook Culture

Scientists have found signs of a specific group of people called the Roaring Brook cultural phase. This group lived in the area around 2,000 to 1,250 years ago. This means they were there between the years AD 1 and AD 750. Finding their tools and other items helps us understand their daily lives. It also shows how they used the land around Roaring Brook.

Discovering the Sites

Both Roaring Brook I and Roaring Brook II are not very large. Each site covers less than one acre of land. In the 1980s, experts looked closely at the land in the lower Connecticut Valley. They were doing surveys, which means they were carefully searching for old sites. During these searches, they found these two important Roaring Brook sites. They also found other ancient places nearby. These discoveries help us learn more about the early people of Connecticut.