Old Town

Old Town is an archaeological site in Williamson County, Tennessee, that sprawls across a large area where two rivers meet and contains multiple earthen mounds and building remains. The place shows the physical layout of an ancient settlement with raised platforms and defensive structures scattered across the landscape.

The site was built between the 11th and 15th centuries by Native Americans and served as a fortified community with protective earthworks and wooden walls. The settlement bears traces of this centuries-long habitation with evidence of occupation and defense systems.

The settlement served as a central gathering place where residents conducted their daily lives and maintained strong ties to the rivers that sustained them. The location where two waterways met made it a natural hub for community activity and interaction between different groups.

The site today serves as a location for scientific study, with several excavation campaigns uncovering thousands of artifacts and structures to understand settlement patterns and daily practices. Visitors should understand that much of what we know about this place comes from systematic digging and careful analysis of remains visible across the land.

Burial chambers lined with stone were discovered along the riverbank, showing how the deceased were treated with ceremony and placed in the ground. These graves held bones and personal items that offer clues about the beliefs and social structure of the people who lived there long ago.