Brentwood Library Site facts for kids
 Location in Tennessee
|
|
| Location | Williamson County, Tennessee,  USA |
|---|---|
| Region | Williamson County, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35°59′45.06″N 86°47′23.60″W / 35.9958500°N 86.7898889°W |
| History | |
| Cultures | Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1997 |
| Responsible body: City of Brentwood | |
The Brentwood Library Site (also known as the Jarman Farm Site) is an archaeological site in Brentwood. This site was once a large town built by the Mississippian culture. The Mississippian people lived here between 1298 and 1465 CE.
Archaeologists have found many interesting things at the site. These include different types of pottery. They also found nearly 50 stone box graves. These are special graves made from stone slabs.
Contents
Discovering the Past: Excavations at Brentwood Library Site
The Brentwood Library Site is located on a low ridge. It is near the Harpeth River and a small creek. This spot was perfect for an ancient town.
Early Discoveries
The site was first mentioned way back in 1882. A famous archaeologist named Frederic Ward Putnam visited the area. He was part of a Harvard Peabody Museum trip. Putnam found 48 stone box graves at the site.
Inside one grave, he found a special necklace called a shell gorget. This one was in the "Nashville style." He also found a bowl with a notched rim. There was also a bottle shaped like a human head. Eight beads made from sea shells were found too.
Modern Excavations
After Putnam's visit, the site was mostly forgotten. But in 1997, construction began for a new library in Brentwood. Workers found remains of a large Mississippian town. They also found more burial areas.
Because of these important finds, professional archaeologists stepped in. They carefully dug up and studied the site. This helped them learn more about the ancient people who lived there.
Ancient Pottery: Clues from Clay
Archaeologists found many pieces of pottery at the site. These were made by the Mississippian people. The pottery shows how skilled they were.
Common shapes included bowls with notched edges. There were also jars with straight rims. Some pots had handles, while others had small bumps called "lugs."
Some pottery pieces had special designs. These were made using a technique called negative painting. This is where the background is painted. The natural color of the clay then forms the main picture.
Many types of pottery were found. The most common was called "Beckwith Incised." This means it had patterns carved into it. Archaeologists also found "effigy pottery." These pots were shaped like animals, such as fish, frogs, and ducks. Some were even shaped like people. These human figures often showed a standing woman with hair knots and ear spools.
