Seven Mile Island Archeological District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Seven Mile Island Archeological District
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Sheffield, Alabama |
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| Area | 800 acres (320 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003352 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1979 |
The Seven Mile Island Archeological District is a special place where scientists study old things. It's on an island in the Tennessee River in Colbert and Lauderdale County, Alabama. People believe that this island has been home to humans for about 9,000 years! That's a very long time.
Scientists have found tools and other items from the early Archaic Period here. This was a time when ancient people lived by hunting and gathering food.
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Uncovering Ancient History on Seven Mile Island
Scientists have found 18 different spots on the island where ancient people lived. Two of these spots have been studied very closely. These studies help us learn about the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago.
The Perry Site: A Deep Dive into the Past
One important spot is called the Perry Site. Scientists also call it 1Lu25. Here, they found a huge pile of old trash and leftover materials, almost seven feet deep! This pile is called a midden. It's like a giant ancient garbage dump, but it's full of clues about daily life.
Inside this midden, they found pieces of ceramic pots. These pieces are called potsherds. They show that people from the Archaic period were making and using pottery.
Seven Mile Island Site: A Village and a Mound
Another key area is the Seven Mile Island site, also known as 1Lu21. This was once a village where people from the Mississippian culture lived. The Mississippian culture was a group of Native American people who lived in the central and southeastern United States. They built large earthen mounds.
At this site, scientists found many interesting things. They discovered arrowheads and knives made from flint. They also found a special bottle with a bird carved into it. This shows how artistic these ancient people were.
Scientists also found 41 burials from the Mississippian era. Studying these burials helps us understand how these people lived and what their customs were.
A Special Place: National Register of Historic Places
Because of its rich history and all the important discoveries, the Seven Mile Island Archeological District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.
See also
In Spanish: Distrito arqueológico de Seven Mile Island para niños
