Battle of Ridgefield Archaeological Findings

Archaeological Findings

Archaeologists working with the Ridgefield Historical Society recently made exciting discoveries that advance the history of the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield.

  • Artifacts they unearthed prove that a British ambush of Patriots north of Main Street resulted in an engagement more fierce than previously believed, and may have involved hand to hand fighting.
  • Discoveries at the south end of Main Street show for the first time that the retreating Patriots made a concerted attempt to rally against the British.
  • And Continental Army buttons stamped with “USA” provide the earliest evidence of symbols of the republic being worn by American soldiers… just ten months after the nation’s founding.
Read how the archaeologists came to town and changed the history of the Battle

On Saturday, April 24, 2027, experience the sights, sounds, and drama of the Battle of Ridgefield reenactment, an unforgettable opportunity to step back into April 1777 and witness history come alive!

Stories of the Survey

Since 2019, news stories have documented the work of archaeologists and forensic scientists.

Read how the story has been told
Buy a copy of this painting here.

Advisory Committee

A team of experts has been guiding the research and “battlefield archaeologists” have been doing the field work.

Meet the men and women behind the new discoveries

Forensic Studies

Scientists studying the skeletal remains are using advanced technology to reveal their identities.

Find out how the analyses are done

Artifacts recovered from the Second Engagement: A)  Hand wrought horseshoe; B)  Silver plated shoe buckle; C)  Knee buckle; D)  Watch key; E)  Linked shirt button; F) Flat disc waistcoat button; G)  Flat disc plated copper alloy (coat) button with starburst design; H)  Liberty Cap One cent (~1790);  I)  Pewter waistcoat button

Artifacts recovered from the Fourth Engagement in discrete cluster: A)  Three dropped, fired, and impacted American musket balls (0.59 and 0.63 diameter); B)  Two heavily impacted musket balls (0.53 and 0.56 diameter); C)  Two small diameter (0.22 and 0.27) impacted musket balls; D)  Pewter Spoon with bent handle;  E) Pewter Spoon handle with (personal?) “X” and “/” marks etched on back;  F) One piece pewter button with conventional design; G)  Two Enlisted USA Continental Army buttons; F)  Copper Firearm Ramrod Pipe, engraved with “XIII”, poss. British Land Pattern Musket 

Artifacts recovered from British Encampment: A)  Pewter flagon rim; B)  Dropped British Musket ball (0.68 diameter);  C) Heavily Impacted American Musket ball (0.59 diameter); D)  Knee Buckle;  E)  Tinned Canteen Spout

Close-up of Enlisted USA buttons, these represent the earliest example of Continental Army buttons for enlisted men in use during the American Revolution, from both archaeological and archival research.  Below, Reflectance Tomography Imaging (RTI) of left button.