The Cumberland River Archaic of Middle Tennessee

Prior to 2010, the only major literature on the manifestation of the Shell Mound Archaic in the Middle Cumberland River Valley of Tennessee was an unpublished dissertation and technical or avocational reports. Recent research by the coeditors reveals that there are nearly forty Archaic shell-bearing sites in the region. This volume brings together multiple lines of evidence to more fully examine a major cultural phase that has been virtually overlooked in the professional literature. We approach this topic by incorporating data and discussions of recent research at Archaic shell-bearing sites in the western Middle Cumberland River Valley combined with contemporary examinations of prior investigations, which until now have been difficult for scholars to access. The data presented in this volume are a testament to the sustainability of riverine adaptions in antiquity.