Archaeological features Pinson Mounds

1 archaeological features

1.1 inner complex
1.2 eastern section
1.3 western (ozier) section

archaeological features

the pinson mounds complex covers approximately 400 acres (1.6 km) , contains @ least 30 mounds, 17 of have been identified being or partially constructed prehistoric peoples. mounds range in height prominent 72-foot saul s mound barely noticeable rises. mounds constructed between 100 , 300 ad, based on radiocarbon dating , predominance of woodland-period artifacts found @ site. following major features @ pinson mounds site:

inner complex

the view across top of mound 10 field below



sauls mound (mound 9), @ center of complex. mound named after john sauls, owner of property before purchase state. sauls mound second-highest prehistoric mound in united states. mound rectangular in formation, each corner aligned 1 of 4 cardinal directions. mound s function believed ceremonial. viewing platform has been constructed atop mound park visitors. dimensions: base— 112 x 91 meters, height— 22 meters.
mound 10, few meters east of sauls mound. mound 10 believed have been platform mound ceremonial function. dimensions: base— 61 x 40 meters, height— 1.3 meters.
mound 11 sector, few meters north of sauls mound, behind museum. mound 11 natural rise believed have been habitation area during middle woodland period.
mound 12, several meters southwest of sauls mound. mound 12 burial mound built upon woodland habitation area. dimensions: base— 23 x 17 meters, height— 1.3 meters.
mound 14 sector, several meters southwest of sauls mound. mound 14 sector late-woodland/early-mississippian habitation area.
mound 15, several hundred meters southwest of sauls mound. part of mound 15 has been destroyed cultivation. dimensions: base— 46 x 50 meters, height— appx. 1 meter.
mound 17, several hundred meters southeast of sauls mound. dimensions: appx. 12 meters long height of 1 meter.

eastern section

the view atop mound 29 area enclosed walls of eastern citadel below



the eastern citadel, earthen geometric enclosure located approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) east of sauls mound. william myer gave enclosure present name in 20th century, although archeologists believe function have been ceremonial rather defensive. walls form near-perfect semicircle diameter of 366 metres (1,201 ft), enclosing approximately 06 square kilometres (1,500 acres). height of walls is, on average, approximately 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). enclosed area not level, western edge being approximately 12 metres (39 ft) lower eastern edge.
mound 29, rectangular platform mound located along eastern edge of geometric enclosure. mound 29 aligned sauls mound in direction of equinox sunrise. dimensions: base— 49 52 metres (161 ft × 171 ft), height— 3.5 metres (11 ft).
mound 30, bird-shaped mound few meters south of mound 29. bird shape thought have been due recent cultivation , subsequent erosion. dimensions: approximately 24 metres (79 ft) long height 1 metre (3.3 ft).
mound 28, rectangular platform mound located approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) northeast of sauls mound , several hundred meters north of eastern citadel. mound 28 aligned sauls mound in direction of summer solstice sunrise. dimensions: base— 62 65 metres (203 ft × 213 ft), height— 4 metres (13 ft).

western (ozier) section

the ozier mound (mound 5), rectangular platform mound earthen ramp facing northeast. @ 33 feet, ozier mound second-largest mound in complex. dimensions: approximately 80 metres (260 ft) in diameter, height of 10 metres (33 ft).
the twin mounds (mound 6), double-conical mound located few meters south of ozier mound. twin mounds burial mounds. base approximately 30 50 metres (98 ft × 164 ft).
mound 31, burial mound located few meters south of ozier mound. base appx. 40 x 60 meters.
the cochran area, site located approximately 200 metres (660 ft) west of ozier mound section. cochran area believed have been temporary habitation area. cochran area covers appx. 5,000 square metres (1.2 acres).




^ mark norton, pinson mounds complex, west tennessee historical society papers 55 (2001). copy obtained @ pinson mounds state archaeological park.
^ robert mainfort , mary kwas, pinson mounds state archaeological park , tennessee encyclopedia of history , culture, 2002. retrieved: 9 december 2007.
^ information obtained on-site interpretive signs, except otherwise noted. information accessed: 8 december 2007. dimensions converted metric consistency.
^ mainfort, et al., archaeological investigations @ pinson mounds, p. 37.
^ mainfort, et al., archaeological investigations @ pinson mounds, p. 54.
^ mainfort, et al., archaeological investigations @ pinson mounds, p. 31.