Mohawk & Iroquois Indian Burial Site - Fonda - New York
Posted by: 
swizzle
N 42° 57.253 W 074° 23.569
18T E 549527 N 4755909
Quick Description: The site of an Indian Castle and Indian Burial Ground.
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 9/22/2009 3:36:58 PM
Waymark Code: WM79B1
Views: 1
Long Description:
Also known as Gandaouage; Kachnawage. This is not the first thing
you think of when you hear the word Castle. The word Castle
actually means "fortified place" and this was the Native American's
form of a Castle. This particular castle was in use between 1666 -
1693. The area offered an overlook onto the Hudson River below
while being very close to a natural spring.
To find this site go west on Route 5 just past the Village of
Fonda. Just outside of Fonda's main village you'll see a road that
veers of on the right and goes up a fairly steep incline. On that
incline is a fairly sharp corner so be careful. As you near the top
of the hill you'll see 2 open fields. The site is the second one on
the right. I wouldn't advise doing this one in the winter.
1666 CAUGHNAWAGA CASTLE SITE 1693 DECLARED A NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PLACE, AUGUST OF 1973 Archeological investigations of
this site were started in 1943. This consisted of surface searching
only.
In spring of 1945 the field was plowed. During June of 1945 a test
trench was opened within one of the many evident darkened areas on
the surface. A number of post molds were discovered in the soil,
but none to indicate a stockade line.
The Van Epps-Hartley Chapter of the N.Y.S. Archeological
Association dug a trench 60 feet long and 5 feet wide in 1948. The
stockade lines, however, were not located.
Beginning in 1950 the native American Village (Castle) of
Caughnawaga was thoroughly excavated by Fr. Thomas Grassmann, a
Conventual Franciscan Friar, with the help of the N.Y.S.
Archeological Association. It was completed in 1956.
The Turtle Clan of the Mohawk lived in this "castle" of
Caughnawaga. A castle refers back to a European term meaning
"fortified". This castle was surrounded by a wooden stockade, 15 to
18 feet high, protecting from intruders. Caughnawaga means "on the
rapids" or "on the water," referring to the Mohawk River. This
castle is the only completely excavated Iroquois Village in the
world.
It was here in this castle that Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha lived a
good part of her earthly life and during this time she was baptized
and dedicated her life to the Lord.
WHITE CONCRETE PILLARS these are surveyor markers.
SMALL WHITE METAL POST or Markers these post form an archeological
grid over the whole site area for record keeping, What has been
found within each square of the grid has been accurately
kept.
SMALL GREY POSTS these go into the tops of the post molds which
formed the stockade. You will note that the castle was doubly
stockaded. 3,041 post were used. The main gate was in the wall,
there were no openings in the north and east walls.
SMALL REDDISH POSTS these post mark the post molds of the outer
walls of the longhouses. There were 12 longhouses, the longhouses
were covered with elm bark.
SMALL YELLOW POSTS these post marks the post which supported the
benches or beds which ran along the interior walls of each
longhouse.
NATIONAL KATERI TEKAKWITHA SHRINE, ROUTE 5 FONDA, NY
Type: Ruins
How did you find this "Ancient Evidence": Geocaching
Terrain Rating: 
Trailhead: Not Listed
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