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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:
- Paleoindian[2] — roughly 12,000 BC (and possibly earlier) to 8000 BC
- Archaic — c. 8000 BC to 1000 BC
- Woodland — c. 1000 BC - 1000 AD
- Mississippian — c. 900 to 1600
- Cherokee — affiliated with proto-historic and historic Cherokee occupation (c. 1600-1800)
- British colonial — affiliated with Euro-American expansion, pre-1776.
- American — affiliated with Euro-American occupation or events post-1776
The sites are listed alphabetically by county.
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Carson-Conn-Short Site |
40BN190 |
Paleo-Indian |
1990s |
|
Eva Site |
40BN12 |
Archaic |
1940 |
Submerged |
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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 |
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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 |
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Pierce Site |
40CS24a |
Paleo-Indian |
1970s |
|
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Stardust Sites I-III |
40CY63-65 |
Archaic, Woodland |
2001 |
|
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Rankin Site |
40CK6 |
Woodland |
1960 |
|
Swaggerty Blockhouse |
40CK201 |
American pioneer/American agricultural |
2001 |
private property |
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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 |
|
|
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Lucky 7 Site |
40FY436 |
Woodland |
|
|
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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 |
|
|
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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.
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Obion Mounds |
40HY14 |
Mississippian |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Lake Hole Cave |
40JN159 |
Mississippian |
1990s |
national forest |
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Fort Pillow |
40LA50 |
American military |
|
state park |
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Mouse Creek Site |
40MN3 |
Woodland, Mississippian |
1930s, 1980s |
|
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Hiwassee Island |
40MG31 |
Mississippian |
1930s |
state wildlife refuge |
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 |
|
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Prison Hill Site |
40MO161 |
Woodland, Mississippian |
|
part of Brushy Mountain prison complex |
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Ocoee |
40PK1 |
Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee |
1930s |
|
Hiwassee Old Town |
40PK3 |
Woodland, Mississippian, Cherokee |
1980s |
|
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Hiwassee Garrison Site |
40RH35 |
American pioneer |
|
|
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Chucalissa |
40SY1 |
Mississippian |
|
state park |
Hilderbrand House |
40SY615 |
American plantation |
|
|
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
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Island 35 Mastodon |
40TP84 |
Pleistocene Faunal |
1900 |
Destroyed |
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Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Big Bone Cave |
40VB103 |
Woodland, American |
|
|
Site |
Designation |
Cultural affiliation(s) |
Year(s) excavated |
Status |
Cardwell Mountain |
40WR15 |
Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian |
|
|
Myers Mound |
40WR5 |
Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian |
|
|
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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
Resources