Milford, Connecticut (giant skeleton site)
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Milford giant skeleton site refers to a coastal location along Connecticut's Long Island Sound where archaeologist Warren Moorehead reportedly uncovered unusually large skeletal remains in 1922. The excavation site was situated near the shoreline in what is now a developed area of Milford, approximately 20 miles southwest of New Haven. The remains were described as being over seven feet in height with distinctive cranial features including flattened skulls and additional dental rows. Today, no visible archaeological markers remain at the location, which has been largely built over by modern residential and commercial development. The Connecticut coastline in this area consists of sandy beaches and salt marshes typical of Long Island Sound's northern shore. Ancient astronaut theorists have pointed to Moorehead's 1922 discovery—particularly the reported seven-foot stature and unusual cranial features—as potential evidence of non-human or foreign presence in pre-Columbian Connecticut, a claim sometimes linked to historical accounts of red-haired giants in Native American oral traditions. However, mainstream archaeologists note that the original skeletal materials have never been formally analyzed or verified in peer-reviewed studies, making it difficult to assess whether the remains represented an anatomically anomalous population or if the initial descriptions reflected the interpretive standards of early 20th-century excavation practices. Without access to the original specimens or detailed comparative analysis, the question of what Moorehead actually discovered remains largely unresolved in the archaeological record.
Timeline
Native American communities, likely ancestors of local Algonquian-speaking peoples, inhabited the Connecticut coastal region
Warren Moorehead conducts excavations along Connecticut shore, reportedly uncovering large skeletal remains at Milford
Local newspapers report on the discovery of giant skeletons with unusual cranial features
What the Show Claims
- ›Two skeletons over seven feet tall with flattened heads and extra rows of teeth were discovered in 1922S14E07
- ›Native American oral traditions describe red-haired giants in the regionS14E07
- ›The skeletal features suggest Celtic or extraterrestrial origins rather than typical Native American ancestryS14E07
Theorist Takes
“Red hair is something that is traditionally associated with the Celtic peoples of Britain. So is it possible that there's a relationship between the ancient British peoples and these giants?”
From the Transcripts
“Milford, Connecticut. August 19, 1922. The dean of American archeology, Warren Moorehead, makes a shocking discovery on the Connecticut shore. His excavations uncover the remains of two massive giants.”
What Archaeology Says
Warren Moorehead, a respected archaeologist who worked extensively in New England during the early 20th century, conducted what appears to have been a systematic excavation along the Connecticut shoreline in 1922. Contemporary newspaper accounts describe his team uncovering skeletal remains of unusual size and morphology, with measurements reportedly exceeding seven feet in height. The remains were said to exhibit distinctive cranial features including artificially flattened skulls and additional dental formations that differed from typical regional Native American populations.
The scientific documentation of these finds remains problematic, as detailed osteological analyses were apparently never published in peer-reviewed archaeological journals. This lack of formal scientific publication was not uncommon for the era, when many archaeological discoveries received only newspaper coverage rather than rigorous academic scrutiny. The absence of preserved skeletal material or detailed measurements makes modern verification impossible.
Mainstream archaeology generally attributes reports of "giant" skeletons from this period to several factors: measurement errors, normal variation within human populations, and the tendency for sensationalized newspaper reporting. The flattened skull features, if accurately reported, could represent intentional cranial modification practices known among various Native American groups, though this specific trait was not typical of southern New England populations.
What remains genuinely unknown is the precise nature of Moorehead's actual findings, as the original skeletal material has been lost or was never properly curated. The site's significance lies more in its role within early 20th-century archaeological reporting practices than in any confirmed anomalous discoveries. Without physical evidence or detailed contemporary scientific documentation, the true nature of the 1922 Milford excavation remains a matter of historical speculation rather than archaeological fact.
Mysteries & Fun Facts
Warren Moorehead was known as the 'Dean of American Archaeology' and helped establish many important archaeological protocols in early 20th-century America
The 1920s saw numerous newspaper reports of giant skeleton discoveries across the United States, most of which were never scientifically verified
Milford was originally settled in 1639 and sits on land traditionally inhabited by the Paugussett people
Long Island Sound's Connecticut shoreline has yielded numerous legitimate archaeological finds from various Native American cultures spanning thousands of years
Planning a Visit
The original excavation site is not marked or accessible as an archaeological destination, having been developed over the decades since the 1922 discovery. Visitors interested in the general area can explore Milford's coastal regions and beaches along Long Island Sound. The town maintains several public parks and waterfront areas that provide access to the shoreline environment where Moorehead conducted his excavations.
New Haven, approximately 20 miles northeast
Late spring through early fall offers the most pleasant weather for exploring Milford's coastal areas, with summer providing the warmest conditions for shoreline activities.
Related Sites
Carnac Stones
Ancient megalithic site in France associated with theories about Celtic migrations and giant builders in ancient times
Externsteine
German rock formation linked to Celtic and pre-Christian European cultures, connecting to theories about ancient Celtic presence in North America
Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma
Location of Native American oral traditions and legends about ancient giants, similar to the traditions cited regarding the Milford discovery