On Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 6:30pm Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist Emeritus, will give an illustrated presentation about his new book, Hiking Ruins of Southern New England, followed by a book signing, at the Ridgefield Library at 472 Main Street in Ridgefield, CT. This free presentation is co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Historical Society, Books on the Common, and the Ridgefield Library. Registration is requested here.

All archaeological ruins in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have a cultural/historical tale to tell, though most sites are on private lands and not available to the public. However, the ruins in this presentation are associated with well-known hiking trails – and their origin or purpose is explained in the new book Hiking Ruins of Southern New England (Falcon Guides, 2024) written by Nick Bellantoni and Barbara Ann Kipfer. The former state archaeologist will present an insider’s look at places archaeologists have identified as part of the region’s cultural development and are available for trail hikers to visit.

Nick Bellantoni’s name is familiar to Ridgefielders who’ve been following the saga of the four skeletons discovered on the site of the Battle of Ridgefield in late 2019. Then just about to retire as State Archaeologist, he spent days in a cold dirt basement painstakingly uncovering the remains of four young men, believed to have been soldiers. Dr. Bellantoni now serves as Connecticut State Archaeologist Emeritus at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut in 1987 and was shortly thereafter appointed the second Connecticut State Archaeologist. He is a former president of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut and the National Association of State Archaeologists.

For more information about this presentation contact: [email protected] or 203-438-5821.

To learn more about the Ridgefield Historical Society: www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org, Books on the Common: www.booksonthecommon.com, and the Ridgefield Library: www.ridgefieldlibrary.org

Photo credit: The ruins of the Amasa Lyons Sawmill (early 19th century) in Natchaug State Forest, Eastford, CT, along the Natchaug (Blue) Trail. Amasa was the father of General Nathaniel Lyon, first Union general killed during the Civil War. Photo by Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni.