Early Tennessee Peoples

Early Tennessee Peoples

by Emily Bloodworth

​Paleo

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When: 12,000 - 14,000 years ago

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Who:  They were nomads who followed herds of animals for food and shelter.

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Why:  They are the first and earliest indigenous people in Tennessee.

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Where:  The Coats-Hines Site revealed that the Paleo people used stone tools and animal bones to survive.

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Archaic​

​When:  8,000 years ago

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Who:  Archaic people were considered hunter-gatherers who began to stay in one place mostly in rock shelters.

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What:  They hunted animals like bear, deer, and rabbits. They gathered nuts, roots, seeds, and berries. 

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Why:  They invented something called an atlatl.

​Woodland

​When: 1000 BC - 1000 AD

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​Who: Indigenous people who lived in the forests and learned to adapt to their environment.

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​Where: Pinson Mounds and Old Stone Fort

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​What: Were innovative and used bows and arrows to hunt. They created jewelry and pottery and decorated it.

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​Why: They traded items with other tribes who lived near by.

​Mississippian

​When: 1000 AD - 1500 AD

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​Where: Chucalissa Indian Village

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​Why: They founded the first indigenous towns/cities and homes were more permanent.

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​What: They learned grow large fields of maize(corn), sunflowers, and squash.