What Is Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Site?
This is a historic town of earth mounds on the shore of the Tennessee River!
What Makes It Historical?
Since the folks who lived here didn’t leave behind a written record, most of what we know about these mounds comes from archaeological excavations! The first of these by Cornelius Cadle in 1899 uncovered a clay pipe that showed the folks here had trade routes stretching as far as Cahokia at St. Louis! Later surveys by the Smithsonian in 1933 and 1934 found the foundations of wattle-and-daub houses between the mounds, a rarity in the eastern US!
Based on these excavations, we know this was a town of seven major and twenty-four smaller mounds, a hierarchical farming town strategically placed on the river for trade! There was once a wall surrounding the town and buildings on top of the mounds, as some important folks were found buried inside! Here, the residents grew corn, squash, goosefoot, and more while hunting in the woods for meat. For reasons not yet known, this town emptied out between 1200 and 1300 AD, and may have blended into other local tribes.
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer at Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Site!
- Donate to Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Site!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
On Riverside Drive, 1.5 miles SE of the Shiloh Battlefield Visitor Center
Shiloh, TN 38376
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
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