Swallow Bluff Island Mounds facts for kids
 Location in Tennessee
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| Location | Saltillo, Tennessee, Hardin County, Tennessee,  USA |
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| Region | Hardin County, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 35°23′25.87″N 88°9′32.51″W / 35.3905194°N 88.1590306°W |
| History | |
| Founded | CE |
| Cultures | Mississippian culture |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Clarence Bloomfield Moore |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Platform mounds, plaza |
The Swallow Bluff Island Mounds are an important archaeological site in Tennessee. An archaeological site is a place where people lived long ago, and we can find clues about their lives. This site was home to people of the Mississippian culture, a group of Native Americans who lived in the central and southeastern United States many centuries ago.
The mounds are located near Saltillo, Tennessee, on Swallow Bluff Island in the Tennessee River. This area is in Hardin County, Tennessee. The site is also known by the number 40HR16, which is a special code used by archaeologists.
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What are the Swallow Bluff Island Mounds?
The Swallow Bluff Island Mounds site was once a community that belonged to a larger group of Mississippian culture settlements. These settlements were part of what archaeologists call the Shiloh polity. This means they were connected to bigger sites like the Shiloh Mounds, which was a major center for these people.
Features of the Site
The site had several important parts:
- Two large platform mounds. These were flat-topped hills built by people, often used for important buildings or ceremonies.
- A plaza, which was an open area, likely used for gatherings or games.
- A village area where people lived.
When an archaeologist named Clarence Bloomfield Moore visited the site in 1914, he measured the larger mound. It had a square base about 130 feet (40 meters) wide. The flat top was about 50 feet (15 meters) across, and the mound stood 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall. Later digs in 2003 showed that this mound was built in four different stages over time.
The River's Impact
Moore also noted that the mounds were very close to the river. Over many years, the Tennessee River has slowly worn away parts of the mound. By the early 2000s, a lot of the mound had been lost due to this natural erosion.
Exploring the Mounds: Excavations
Archaeologists have visited the Swallow Bluff Island Mounds to learn more about the people who lived there.
Early Investigations
In 1914, C. B. Moore dug into the main mound. He was looking for pottery and other items left behind by the ancient people. During his dig, he found more than 20 stone box graves at the top of the mound. These graves were special burial places made with stone slabs.
After Moore's visit, the site was mostly left alone for nearly 70 years. Only local people and sometimes looters visited it.
Modern Archaeological Work
In the early 1980s, another archaeologist named Gerald Smith came to the site. He was checking out holes that looked like they were made by looters. However, these holes might have actually been what was left of Moore's earlier digs.
A big flood in 2003 caused a lot of damage to the site. Because of this, archaeologists decided to do more surveys and excavations. They wanted to learn as much as possible about the main mound before the river completely washed it away. This work helps us understand the history of the Mississippian people and how they lived.
