I have a deep interest in Early American History. Always have felt
that way. Through the years of walking the creeks and woods of the
Middle Tennessee area, I have learned to look at the area I
am walking in, and to spot unusual stones. The stone age people that
inhabited this part of the country 10,000-20,000 years ago were amazing
in their ability to shape stones into tools and weapons. Stone spear
heads have been discovered in Wooly Mammoths that roamed America
thousands of years ago.
Not far from our old farm house is the remains of a village of Mound Builders that were part of a culture that covered the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee river valleys. They are an unknown people, some claim to have knowledge of their culture while others say they are a mystery race. The first White Men, Long Hunters, that came down the Cumberland River from the Virginia colonies in the 1700's, were told by the Native Americans that hunted this area at that time, that the Mound Builders were the Ancient People, and they did not claim a kinship with them. The remains of these
villages were surrounded by finely wrought stone walls, much like the remains of the Mayan ruins in Central and South America. I have seen these Mayan ruins and joined in a dig on an Island off the Honduras coast. I came back with a clay pitcher that has an almost identical style to the stone and clay vessels found in Tennessee and surrounding areas. I have found much broken clay pieces of pottery on my land here where we live, along with about 500 pieces of stone tools and weapons. The reason for that is the location. Our house sits on a rise, above a creek and a walled spring. It was the perfect place for an Indian village or camping site. After every rain, I can go out and walk my property and look down and find another piece that has been washed free of the dirt. Also, our Deshea Creek is a historic site for Indian artifacts.
Probably boring to most, but an interesting insight into the people that lived here long, long ago.
Stan
Not far from our old farm house is the remains of a village of Mound Builders that were part of a culture that covered the Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee river valleys. They are an unknown people, some claim to have knowledge of their culture while others say they are a mystery race. The first White Men, Long Hunters, that came down the Cumberland River from the Virginia colonies in the 1700's, were told by the Native Americans that hunted this area at that time, that the Mound Builders were the Ancient People, and they did not claim a kinship with them. The remains of these
villages were surrounded by finely wrought stone walls, much like the remains of the Mayan ruins in Central and South America. I have seen these Mayan ruins and joined in a dig on an Island off the Honduras coast. I came back with a clay pitcher that has an almost identical style to the stone and clay vessels found in Tennessee and surrounding areas. I have found much broken clay pieces of pottery on my land here where we live, along with about 500 pieces of stone tools and weapons. The reason for that is the location. Our house sits on a rise, above a creek and a walled spring. It was the perfect place for an Indian village or camping site. After every rain, I can go out and walk my property and look down and find another piece that has been washed free of the dirt. Also, our Deshea Creek is a historic site for Indian artifacts.
Probably boring to most, but an interesting insight into the people that lived here long, long ago.
Stan
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