(June 24, 2026) — What began as a targeted search for a long-lost colonial meeting house has yielded a surprising and deeply human glimpse into Haddam’s past.
In May 2026, Connecticut State Archaeologist Dr. Sarah P. Sportman led a team of volunteers in a series of archaeological test excavations at the Old Burial Yard of Thirty Mile Island on Saybrook Road, one of the town’s oldest and most historically significant sites. The project’s primary goal was to locate the remains of Haddam’s Second Meeting House, which stood from 1721 until it was destroyed by fire in 1771.
The burial ground has long been associated with the meeting house, and a historical marker on site identifies it as such. A geophysical survey conducted the previous year—including ground-penetrating radar and thermal imaging—revealed what appeared to be the outlines of two subsurface foundations, giving archaeologists a strong starting point for investigation.
Over the course of the initial two-day dig, Dr. Sportman’s team set out to confirm whether those anomalies represented the meeting house remains. While analysis is ongoing, the excavation quickly proved productive, though not entirely in the way researchers had anticipated.
Foundations and a Different Story Emerging
During the dig, archaeologists uncovered a section of a stone foundation, lending support to the geophysical survey results and suggesting that structural remains do indeed survive beneath the surface. However, the artifacts found in association with the foundation point to a slightly later period than the original meeting house.
Rather than strictly early-18th-century materials, the team recovered an assemblage dominated by 19th-century artifacts, with a smaller component dating to the late 18th century. This indicates that the site might have been reused or reoccupied after the meeting house burned—or that additional structures once stood nearby. Based on photographs in the archives of the Haddam Historical Society, it is believed this structure could be the home of Dr. Ira Hutchinson, who practiced medicine in Haddam for 25 years in the 1800’s.
Everyday Life in Early Haddam
Much of the material uncovered reflects the rhythms of daily life. Archaeologists found domestic refuse, including broken ceramic tableware (photo above), bottle glass fragments, and animal bones from food consumption, which offer insight into diet, trade, and household activity during the late 1700’s and 1800’s.
Among the most striking discoveries was an adult human tooth, found with its root intact and showing severe decay. Rather than having fallen out naturally, the tooth appears to have been deliberately extracted, providing physical evidence of early dental intervention. The team believes the procedure may have been performed by Dr. Hutchinson, though further research will be needed to support that connection. The find offers a vivid reminder of the realities of healthcare in earlier centuries, when tooth extraction was a common solution to advanced decay.
Other intriguing finds include a tiny pewter spoon, which may have served as a pharmaceutical dosing tool or possibly belonged to a child as a toy, and a worn Spanish Real coin (photo above) dated 1785. Spanish currency circulated widely in the post-colonial period. Dr. Sportman believes it may even be a counterfeit, reflecting the widespread circulation of unofficial currency during a time of coin shortages.
Looking Ahead
The May excavation was designed as a test to determine whether a larger, more comprehensive dig would be worthwhile. Based on the findings, Dr. Sportman intends to conduct another dig over three or four days in late August or September to open up a few more sites around the house.
In addition, Dr. Sportman will give a public presentation of the archeological findings at the Old Burial Yard at Thirty Mile Island on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Haddam Firehouse.
History Beneath the Surface
The Thirty Mile Island site continues to reveal that history is rarely simple. What was once assumed to be a single-purpose religious site now appears to contain layers of activity spanning generations. These discoveries remind us that even well-known historic locations can still hold surprises. Every artifact adds another piece to the story, not just of a building, but of the people who lived, worked, and were cared for here. As research continues, the Old Burial Yard remains not only a place of remembrance, but also a growing source of insight into Haddam’s colonial and early American past.
