Fort Corchaug Archaeological Site

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Fort Corchaug Archeological Site

| nrhp_type = nhl

| image = Fort-corchaug-vicinity.jpg

| caption = Fort Corchaug Vicinity

| location = Cutchogue, Town of Southold, NY

| coordinates = {{coord|41|00|09.66|N|72|29|55.48|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = New York#USA

| designated_nrhp_type = January 20, 1999

| added = January 18, 1974{{NRISref|2007a}}

| refnum = 74001308

}}

Fort Corchaug Archeological Site is a prehistoric archaeological site in Cutchogue on eastern Long Island in New York State. It is located west of the North Fork Country Club, on the south side of Main Road (New York State Route 25). The site shows evidence of 17th century contact between Native Americans and Europeans. Fort Corchaug itself was a log fort built by Native Americans. It may have been to protect the Corchaug tribe from other Indians, built with the help of Europeans.[http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs212a,0,5584827.story Newsday.com Article on Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006091842/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs212a,0,5584827.story |date=2007-10-06 }} Ralph Solecki, a prominent American archaeologist, grew up nearby and conducted several digs on site.[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DA1039F937A3575AC0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all NY Times article]

It remains today one of the few undisturbed Native American fortified village sites in the North East.{{Cite web |url=http://southoldtown.northfork.net/Fort%20Corchaug%20History.htm |title=Fort Corchaug History |access-date=February 9, 2008 |archive-date=February 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212171358/http://southoldtown.northfork.net/Fort%20Corchaug%20History.htm |url-status=dead }} and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1999.{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-95678437&ResourceType=Site|title=Fort Corchaug Archaelogical Site|date=2007-09-11|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2007-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605232518/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=-95678437&ResourceType=Site|archive-date=2008-06-05|url-status=dead}} The {{convert|105|acre|ha|adj=on}} property where the fort is located is protected in part by a conservation easement owned by a local land trust, and is in part owned by the town of Southold as a nature preserve. Known as the Downs Farm Preserve, it is open to the public with hiking trails.{{cite web|url=http://www.southoldtownny.gov/266/Downs-Farm-Preserve|title=Downs Farm Preserve|publisher=Town of Southold|accessdate=2018-04-12}}{{cite web|url=https://peconiclandtrust.org/our-work/projects/downs-farm-preserve|title=Downs Farm Preserve|publisher=Peconic Land Trust|accessdate=2018-04-12}}

The Corchaug tribe, also known as the Montaukett, originally had the land from the Nassau border to Montauk Point. Depradation by the Narragansetts of Connecticut and decimation from smallpox caused to tribe to leave their land in the South Fork and with the help of whites built forts to ward off attacks. Another fort still being excavated is Fort Hill (now in Montauk County Park) in Montauk Point, described as "one of the earliest and best for its time", it was placed on a 1658 map of Long Island.http://montaukett.org/?page_id=22