Archaeologists who were excavating an historic Connecticut town green have uncovered the well-preserved remains of an 18th-century bake house — an unusual remnant of the Revolutionary War.The structure, used to bake bread for French troops supporting the American Revolution, was found on the Lebanon Town Green in Lebanon, Connecticut.Archaeologists digging in the New London County town uncovered the bake house earlier in June.SECRETS OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELDS EMERGE 250 YEARS AFTER AMERICA'S FOUNDINGPictures from the excavation show the exposed bake house foundation, as well as various small artifacts.Relatively few artifacts were found at the site, said Sarah P.Sportman, Connecticut state archaeologist — but one discovery in particular stood out.Archaeologists recovered a few artifacts during the excavation, including a burned gunflint dating to the Revolutionary War era.
(WFSB; Connecticut Office of State Archaeology)Sportman told Fox News Digital that — on the last day of the excavation — archaeologists found a burned gunflint."Gunflints were chipped pieces of stone used in flintlock firearms, like the ones used during the Revolutionary War," she said."The stone is used to create the spark that ignites the powder and fires the weapon."VETERAN-LED DIG OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLEFIELD SEEKS TO SHED LIGHT ON HISTORY, EMPOWER DISABLED VETSMany of the excavation's other finds were more routine and reflected different periods of the site's history."In the top layers of [soil], we found some ceramic and glass fragments that date to the late 19th century," she said, which suggested general landscaping work.A small artifact is shown at left, with a view of the exposed bake house at right.
(Connecticut Office of State Archaeology; WFSB)"As we got a little deeper, we found some older [pieces] ...[plus] late 18th century ceramic fragments, a few pieces of animal bone, clay smoking pipe fragments and older bottle glass."She said that "overall, though, the ...