The Fascinating Archaeological Discovery That Put This Tennessee Farm On The Map
By Chris Dodge|Published July 26, 2023
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
Did you know that the Volunteer State had an official state artifact? You might have known that our state bird is the mockingbird, or that our state mammal is the raccoon, but chances are you didn’t know about Tennessee’s official state artifact. Allow me to introduce you: his name is Sandy and the story about the people who created him is nothing short of fascinating. Some of the places that once housed a thriving culture now contain mere echoes of the past, but you can take a journey to many of the places to dig deeper into this fascinating part of Tennessee history.
Sandy is a beautifully created statue of a kneeling man and is believed to be the oldest piece of Native American art here in Tennessee.
The figure stands 18.5 inches tall and is believed to have been carved anywhere from AD 1250 to 1350. This was during what is called the Mississippian period. In 2014, this statue was recognized and given the honorary title of Tennessee’s State Artifact.
Back in 1939, a tenant farmer was working on the Sellars Farm when he unearthed a significant discovery: Sandy, who'd been hidden away, buried, and forgotten for some 500 years.
This little farm became a treasure trove of artifacts and was shortly discovered to actually be the place of a Mississippian-era town. Further evidence revealed remnants of a thriving civilization that had long been forgotten. Now this area has been designated as a state archaeological site and work is being done to learn about this fascinating culture: what daily life was like, what kind of society did they have, and what did they believe? The picture above depicts an artist's interpretation of how the town would have looked during its peak of operation.
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Although the site itself requires a state park or TDOA escort to visit, you can embark on an unchaperoned loop hike in the area.
You might not discover ancient artifacts along the way but you can enjoy a quiet forest, the peaceful Spring Creek, and beautiful fields. There is something rather intriguing about walking the same land and in the same footsteps as these great people. There is still so much to discover and so much to learn -- the possibilities fascinate me.
After you finish walking the loop trail at Sellars Farm, make sure you make good use of the trails within Long Hunter State Park. This is also a great place for water recreation and they have gorgeous sunrises.
They have discovered a mound within the Sellars Farm and this was a common practice among the Mississippian age.
Some of them were used for burial purposes but we are still learning about these practices. If you want to learn more about these mounds found around our state a great place to visit is the biggest one in Tennessee. Pison Mounds is another archaeological site and the interesting thing about these mounds all centers around what kind of materials went into making them. Pieces of shells only found in the Gulf of Mexico, and minerals found as far as the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes region in Canada suggest that people brought many materials from far distances to create these massive mounds. The story is still being written and if only Sandy himself could speak of the mysteries found only in the past, but alas we still search for answers.
Of course, if you would like to see Sandy in person, head east to the University of Tennessee. Located in the McClung Museum is a Native American exhibit where you can find the official Tennessee State Artifact. Not only can you witness this masterpiece in person, but you can also see other tools, pottery, and more from the earliest inhabitants of our state.
Sandy is Tennessee’s State Artifact but he only represents a greater story to be told. One that spans not just our land here in Tennessee, but connects the rest of the United States in ways we have only begun to understand. The history is intriguing and while we watch it unveil we have the privilege to be able to visit some of these ancient places ourselves. So fancy yourself a historian? Take a road trip to all these places all across our state to round out this captivating story but don’t forget to pack the essentials before you go.
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