Revolutionary War bake house for French troops is uncovered in Connecticut

Archaeologists excavating a historic town in Connecticut have uncovered the well-preserved remains of an 18th-century bakery; this was an extraordinary relic from the Revolutionary War.

The structure, which was used to bake bread for French troops supporting the American Revolution, was found at Lebanon Town Green in Lebanon, Connecticut.

Archaeologists excavating the New London County town uncovered the bakery house in early June.

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Pictures from the excavation show the foundation of the oven exposed, as well as various smaller artifacts.

Connecticut state archaeologist Sarah P. Sportman said relatively few artifacts were found at the site, but one discovery stood out in particular.

Sportman told Fox News Digital that on the last day of the dig, archaeologists found a burnt gun flint.

“Musket flints were pieces of chipped stone used in flintlock muskets, like those used in the War of Independence,” he said. “The stone is used to create the spark that ignites the gunpowder and ignites the gun.”

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Most of the other finds in the excavation were of a more routine nature and reflected different periods of the region’s history.

“In the uppermost layers [soil]”We found some ceramics and glass pieces dating to the late 19th century,” he said, suggesting general landscaping work.

A small artifact is shown on the left, a view of the exposed furnace on the right. (Connecticut State Archaeological Office; WFSB)

“As we dug a little deeper, we found older ones. [pieces] … [plus] Ceramic fragments from the late 18th century, a few pieces of animal bones, clay pipe fragments and old bottle glass.”

“But overall, the number of works is quite low,” he said.

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Sportman said historians have long believed that a French bakery stood on the town green, and the suspected location is marked with a commemorative plaque.

While walls and bricks were reportedly unearthed during an amateur excavation at the site in 1896, there were no maps, photographs or preserved artifacts documenting the excavation, making it the first modern archaeological excavation of this kiln.

“We hope that additional testing in the fall will clarify some of these features and help us better understand the site.”

“As far as everyone knows, the discovery in 1896 was the only excavation ever carried out in this area, and our work confirms this,” he said.

“We were unsure whether the excavation in the 1890s had damaged the foundation, but it appears to be largely intact and is filled with a large amount of rubble.”

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Sportman added that the structure had to be “semi-permanent” in appearance, as the camp in the area would last several months.

“The foundation is not very solid and does not exhibit tightly constructed masonry,” he said.

Historians long believed that a French bakery existed on Lebanon Town Green, and modern archaeologists have now confirmed its location. (WFSB)

“However, it is certainly more permanent than the earthen ovens used by troops on the move for several days… It appears that stone was the basis and brick was used for the bulk of the oven.”

Finding the oven does not mean the investigation is over. Researchers are still working to determine the style of the structure and better understand the surrounding area, Sportman said.

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“The ground penetrating radar survey carried out before the excavation shows that the stone and brick structure we excavated is part of a possible building complex in this part of the green area,” he said.

“We hope that additional testing in the fall will clarify some of these features and help us better understand the site.”

The Connecticut excavation marks the first modern archaeological investigation of the historic furnace following an undocumented excavation more than a century ago. (WFSB; David Leslie, TerraSearch Geophysics, LLC)

Sportman emphasized that the kiln excavation is just one part of a larger archaeological and historical project celebrating the 250th anniversary of Lebanon’s founding.

Experts said they identified “numerous sites related to 18th-century militia training and the possible location of a French hospital, indicating the extent of Revolutionary War activities in Lebanon.”

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“The project is also important because the Lebanon camp was part of the route of French troops under General Rochambeau who arrived to help American colonists overthrow British rule,” Sportman said. he added.

“This is an important reminder that America’s victory requires significant help from our French allies, and such partnerships always make us stronger.”