At a packed event on April 24 at St. Stephen’s Church North Hall, historian and archaeologist Dr. David Naumec captivated an audience eager to learn more about Ridgefield’s Revolutionary War past. His illustrated lecture, Unearthing Answers to the Battle of Ridgefield Mysteries, offered a compelling overview of the cutting-edge technology and methods being deployed in the Ridgefield Historical Society’s ongoing archaeological investigation of Ridgefield’s 1777 battlefield. Dr. Naumec traced the project’s progress from the initial 2021 survey to the exciting new phase made possible by a second grant obtained by the Ridgefield Historical Society from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program. His talk emphasized how modern tools—such as ground-penetrating radar and metal detection—are reshaping our understanding of one of Connecticut’s most important historic events.
The presentation also served as a call to action for local property owners. With much of the battlefield lying beneath private land, community involvement is critical to the project’s success. Dr. Naumec encouraged Ridgefield residents to consider participating in the survey, noting that every artifact recovered adds to a fuller, more accurate picture of the battle’s scope and intensity. Hosted by the Ridgefield Historical Society, the event reinforced the organization’s role in preserving and interpreting local history, particularly as the nation prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding. Ridgefield property owners interested in learning more and participating in the project are encouraged to read, sign, and return this permission form to: [email protected]
