List of archaeological sites in Tennessee

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The Tennessee Division of Archaeology maintains a database of all archaeological sites recorded within the state of Tennessee. As of January 1, 2009 this catalog contains more than 22,000 sites, including both prehistoric and historic resources. In Tennessee, Prehistoric is generally defined as the time between the appearance of the first people in the region (c. 12,000 BC) and the arrival of the first European explorers (c. 1540 AD). The Historic period begins after the arrival of those Europeans and continues to the present. Both these periods are further divided into subperiods and phases using established archaeological conventions for the region.[1]

The following list of archaeological sites in Tennessee encompasses sites that have either contributed substantially or have the potential to contribute substantially to research regarding people who have lived in what is now Tennessee. Note that a historical site is not necessarily an archaeological site. According to the Tennessee Division of Archaeology Site Survey Record, official site numbers are generally assigned to historic sites only if artifacts and/or historic documentation for that site support a pre–1933 date. Historical sites are included in the following list only if actual field work has been conducted at the site.

The term cultural affiliation refers to the archaeological period when a site was created and/or occupied. Many sites were occupied during more than one archaeological period, and are therefore known as multicomponent. An example of a multicomponent site would be American Civil War earthworks constructed at the same location as a prehistoric Mississippian village. The cultural affiliation category in the list below refers only to periods in which the most significant occupation or event (e.g., a battle) took place at the site.

Archaeological sites recorded in Tennessee are assigned State Trinomials consisting of letter and number combinations that indicate the state and county where the site is found, and includes a sequential number identifying the specific site. For example, the trinomial 40DV11 designates the eleventh archaeological site recorded in Davidson County (DV) , Tennessee (40) .

Legend for cultural affiliations:

The sites are listed alphabetically by county.

Anderson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Bull Bluff Site 40AN20 Woodland, Mississippian 1960s
Clinton Site 40AN74 Woodland 1990s
Cox Site Mississippian 1934
Crawford Farm Mound 40AN21 Woodland 1930s
Freels Bend Site 40AN8 Woodland 1960s
Freels Cabin 40AN28 American pioneer 1977 DOE-owned
Freels Farm Mounds 40AN22 Woodland 1930s
University of Tennessee Farm Site 40AN2 1960s

Benton County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Carson-Conn-Short Site 40BN190 Paleo-Indian 1990s
Eva Site 40BN12 Archaic 1940 Submerged

Blount County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
40BT47 Woodland, Mississippian c. 1990
Apple Barn Site 40BT90 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee 1999–2001
Peter Cable Complex 40BT34 American pioneer national park
Chestnut Flats 40BT133 Archaic, American pioneer national park
Chilhowee 40BT7 Cherokee 1950s Submerged
Gas Company Site 40BT94 Woodland 1999–2001
Gregory Cave 40BT141 Woodland, Mississippian national park
Indian Grave Gap 40BT140 national park
Kinzel Springs Site 40BT89 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee 1999–2001
John Oliver Complex 40BT55 American pioneer 1980s national park
Pony Ride Site 40BT91 Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee, American 1999–2001
Sparks Bottom Site 40BT129 Archaic, Woodland national park
Spence Field 40BT138 national park
Tallassee 40BT8 Cherokee 1950s Submerged

Bradley County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Chatata
Ledford Island 40BY13 Mississippian 1930s
Rymer Site 40BY15 Mississippian

Campbell County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Bowman Farm Site 40CP2 Mississippian 1930s
Harris Farm Site 40CP9 Mississippian 1930s
Heatherly Stone Mounds 40CP1 Woodland 1930s
Irvin Village 40CP5 Mississippian 1930s
Saltpeter Cave 40CP3 Woodland 1930s

Cheatham County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Mound Bottom 40CH8 Mississippian 1970s state archaeological site
Pack Site 40CH1 Mississippian 1930s
Patterson Forge 40CH87 American industry state park

Chester County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Pierce Site 40CS24a Paleo-Indian 1970s

Claiborne County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Ausmus Cave 40CE20 Mississippian 1930s
Cheek Site 40CE28 Archaic, Woodland
Doug Young Site 40CE56 Woodland
Essary Site 40CE40 Archaic
Tazewell Fortification 40CE109

Clay County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Stardust Sites I-III 40CY63-65 Archaic, Woodland 2001

Cocke County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Rankin Site 40CK6 Woodland 1960
Swaggerty Blockhouse 40CK201 American pioneer/American agricultural 2001 private property

Coffee County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Cascade Distillery Site 40CF237 American industry
Old Stone Fort 40CF1 Woodland 1966 state park

Davidson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
East Nashville Mounds 40DV4 Mississippian 1868, 1992
French Lick 40DV5 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian 1821, 1860s, 1880s, 1992, 2014 Mississippian features partially excavated during construction of First Tennessee Ball Park in 2014. Parts of the site are intact.
Widemeier Site 40DV9 Paleo-Indian, Archaic
Traveller's Rest 40DV11 Mississippian
Archaeological Site No. 40DV35 40DV35 Mississippian
First American Cave, Regions Center (Nashville) 40DV40 Ice Age fauna, Woodland 1971
Brick Church Mound and Village Site 40DV39 Mississippian 1877, 1969, 1971-2001 Destroyed for residential development
The Hermitage 40DV100 American plantation Museum
The Ensworth School 40DV184 Paleoindian, Archaic, Mississippian 2003 Destroyed
Kelley's Battery 40DV392 Mississippian, American military
Drennon Site 40DV447 Archaic, Woodland
Hermitage Springs 40DV551 Archaic, Woodland

Fayette County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Lucky 7 Site 40FY436 Woodland

Giles County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Elk River Fortification 40GL54 American military
Johnson May Site 40GL85 Woodland
Parker's Pasture 40GL25 Mississippian

Greene County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Birdwell Site 40GN228 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Davy Crockett Birthplace 40GN12 Woodland, American pioneer 1977 state park
Neas Site 40GN229 Archaic, Woodland
Samuel Doak Plantation 40GN257 American pioneer

Hamilton County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Audubon Acres 40HA84 Mississippian
Citico 40HA65 Mississippian 1970s
Dallas Island 40HA1 Woodland, Mississippian 1930s Submerged
David Davis Site 40HA301 Mississippian
Hampton Place Archaeological Site 40HA146 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Hixon Site 40HA3 Mississippian 1930s
LeCroy Site 40HA43 Mississippian 1940s, 1950s
MacLellan Island 40HA64 Archaic, Woodland
Mallards Dozen Archaeological Site 40HA147 Archaic, Woodland
Moccasin Bend 40HA63 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian 1960s Part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
Vulcan Archaeological Site 40HA140 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Woodland Mound Archaeological District Woodland

Hardeman County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Davis Bridge Battlefield 40HM106 American military

Hardin County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Shiloh Battlefield Site 40HR179 American military national military park
Shiloh Indian Mounds Woodland, Mississippian National historic landmark
Swallow Bluff Island Mounds 40HR16 Mississippian Private

The Holliston Mills site, a Mississippian town in Upper East Tennessee, is located on the north bank of the Holston River south of Kingsport in Hawkins County, Tennessee. The site was excavated by members of the Tennessee Archaeological Society between 1968 and 1972. It was excavated in ten-foot blocks using six-inch levels, revealing a large late prehistoric (and perhaps protohistoric) town represented by at least two palisades, more than 660 burials, a large public structure, and several smaller domestic structures. The excavators initially reported the recovery of what they believed to be Cobb Island pottery in the plow zone and much Dallas material from the level excavations, but they also noted that the site had been looted prior to their excavations. There is little, if any, Cobb Island pottery, but there are some Pisgah ceramics.

Henderson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Parker's Crossroads Battlefield 40HE118 American military

Henry County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Obion Mounds 40HY14 Mississippian

Hickman County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Gordon Site Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland
Mayberry Site 40HI133 Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland
Oldroy Site 40HI131 Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland

Humphreys County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Fairchance Furnace 40HS168 American industry
Johnsonville Battlefield American military State park
Link Farm Site 40HS6 Mississippian
Nuckolls Site 40HS60 Paleo-Indian

Jackson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Fort Blount 40JK125 American frontier, Middle Woodland 1989–1994
Austin Peay Bridge Site 40JK129 Archaic
Moore Bottom 40JK145 Archaic

Jefferson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Strawberry Plains Fortification 40JE41-44 American military
Zimmerman's Island 40JE2 Mississippian 1940s Submerged

Johnson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Lake Hole Cave 40JN159 Mississippian 1990s national forest

Knox County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Marble Springs American pioneer state historic site
Montgomery Site 40KN39 Woodland
Post Oak Island 40KN23 Mississippian Submerged
Ramsey House 40KN120 American plantation 1995 Museum
Sevierville Hill Site 40KN142 American military
U.T. Agriculture Farm Mound 40KN16 Woodland
William Blount Mansion American pioneer National Historic Landmark

Lake County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Cremaillere Line Fortification 40LK54 American military
Foxhole Site 40LK10 Mississippian

Lauderdale County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Fort Pillow 40LA50 American military state park

Loudon County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Bacon Farm Site 40LD35 Archaic 1976
Bat Creek Site 40LD24 Mississippian 1975 Partially submerged
Bussell Island 40LD17 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee 1970s Location of Tellico Dam
Iddins Site 40LD38 Archaic 1970s
Kimberly-Clark Site 40LD208 Mississippian 1989
Loudon Fortification 40LD211-212, etc. American military
Morganton 40LD105 American river town 1978 Submerged
Tipton-Dixon House 40LD179 Woodland
Wear Bend Site 40LD107 Cherokee 1970s Submerged

Madison County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Cochran Site 40MD23 Archaic, Woodland 1970s Grouped with Pinson Mounds
Denmark Mound Group 40MD85 Mississippian
Johnston Mound Complex 40MD3 Woodland
Pinson Mounds 40MD1 Woodland 1960s, 1970s, 1980s state archaeological park

McMinn County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Mouse Creek Site 40MN3 Woodland, Mississippian 1930s, 1980s

McNairy County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Big Hill Pond Fortification 40MY95 American military
Wray's Bluff Fortification 40MY111 American military

Meigs County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Hiwassee Island 40MG31 Mississippian 1930s state wildlife refuge

Monroe County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Bacon Bend Site 40MR25 Archaic, Woodland 1960s, 1970s submerged
Calloway Island 40MR41 Archaic, Woodland 1970s submerged
Chota 40MR2 Cherokee 1960s, 1970s submerged; monument in raised area
Citico 40MR7 Mississippian, Cherokee 1970s submerged
Fort Loudoun 40MR1 English colonial military 1930s, 1970s original site raised with fill; fort reconstructed
Great Tellico/Chatuga 40MR12 Cherokee
Halfway Town 40MR8 Cherokee 1970s submerged
Harrison Branch 40MR21 Archaic, Woodland 1970s submerged
Icehouse Bottom 40MR23 Archaic, Woodland 1970s submerged
Martin Farm Site 40MR20 Mississippian 1960s, 1970s submerged
Mialoquo 40MR3 Cherokee 1970s submerged
Rose Island 40MR44 Archaic, Woodland 1970s submerged
Starnes-Kahite 40MR32 Cherokee 1960s
Tanasi 40MR62 Cherokee 1960s, 1970s submerged; marked by monument
Tellico Blockhouse 40MR50 American military 1970s state park
Tomotley 40MR5 Cherokee 1970s submerged
Toqua 40MR6 Mississippian, Cherokee 1970s submerged
Tuskegee 40MR24, 40MR64 Cherokee 1960s, 1970s submerged
Virginia Fort 40MR71 English colonial military 1970s

Montgomery County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Dunbar Cave 40MT43 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian state park
Fort Defiance/Fort Bruce 40MT287 American military
Riverview Mounds 40MT44 Mississippian

Morgan County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Prison Hill Site 40MO161 Woodland, Mississippian part of Brushy Mountain prison complex

Pickett County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Huddleston-Little Cabin 40PT38 American pioneer
Smyrna Schoolhouse 40PT39 American pioneer

Polk County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Ocoee 40PK1 Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee 1930s
Hiwassee Old Town 40PK3 Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee 1980s

Rhea County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Hiwassee Garrison Site 40RH35 American pioneer

Roane County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Davis-Noe Site 40RE137 Mississippian
Fort Southwest Point 40RE119 American military 1970s, 1980s museum
Red Velvet Spider Rockshelter 40RE243 Woodland

Rutherford County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Stones River Battlefield 40RD177 American military National battlefield
Sam Davis Home 40RD23 American plantation

Sevier County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Lawson Home Site 40SV51
McCroskey Island 40SV43 Mississippian 1980s
McMahan Mound Site 40SV1 Mississippian 1980s

Shelby County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Chucalissa 40SY1 Mississippian state park
Hilderbrand House 40SY615 American plantation

Smith County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Battery Knob Earthworks 40SH134 American military
Beasley Mounds Site 40SM43 Mississippian culture 1895

Stewart County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Wells Creek Crater[3] 40Sw73 Paleo Indian 1960s Can drive through[4]

LINVILLE CAVE (40SL24), SULLIVAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Eastman Rockshelter Sullivan County, TN

Sumner County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Bledsoe's Station 40SU32 American pioneer 1990s Public park
Camp Trousdale Site 40SU107 American military
Castalian Springs 40SU14 Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Rutherford-Kizer Mound Group 40SU15 Mississippian
Wynnewood 40SU75 state historic site

Tipton County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Island 35 Mastodon 40TP84 Pleistocene Faunal 1900 Destroyed

Van Buren County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Big Bone Cave 40VB103 Woodland, American

Warren County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Cardwell Mountain 40WR15 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Myers Mound 40WR5 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian

Washington County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Plum Grove Archaeological Site 40WG17 Woodland, Mississippian

White County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Cherry Creek Mound 40WH65 Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian
Indian Cave 40WH43 Woodland, Mississippian
Officer Cave 40WH98 1980s

Williamson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Anderson Site 40WM9 Archaic
Brentwood Library Site 40WM210 Mississippian
Carnton 40WM32 American plantation national historic landmark
Coats-Hines Site 40WM31 Paleo-Indian 1995
Fewkes Group Archaeological Site 40WM1 Mississippian 1920, 1998 NHRP
Harpeth Furnace 40WM83 American industry
Kellytown 40WM10 Mississippian
Old Town Archaeological Site 40WM2 Mississippian NHRP
Roper's Knob Fortifications 40WM101 American military
Triune Fortification 40WM106 American military

Wilson County

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Sellars Indian Mound 40WI1 Mississippian Managed by Long Hunter State Park

Location not publicized

Site Designation Cultural affiliation(s) Year(s) excavated Status
Mud Glyph Cave Mississippian 1980s

See also

Tennessee Division of Archaeology

History of Tennessee

Notes

  1. ↑ Site data on file, Tennessee Division of Archaeology Site Survey Record, Nashville
  2. ↑ Although the Wikipedia entry for Paleoindian inserts a hyphen into the word, accepted scientific and archaeological nomenclature omits this punctuation; see links under Resources below for correct usage.
  3. ↑ Don W. Dragoo Archaeology of Eastern North America Vol. 1, No. 1 (SPRING 1973), pp. 1-56 Published by: Eastern States Archeological Federation Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40914129
  4. ↑ http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20100328/LIFESTYLE05/3290350/Historical-crater-part-local-landscape

Resources

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