Geographic setting Pinson Mounds

the view atop sauls mound, looking east

the pinson mounds located on plateau-like upland above wetlands line banks of south fork of forked deer river. river , wetlands form complex s southern boundary. pinson mounds located amidst 3 distinctive biotic zones: oak forests atop plateau, cypress forests in wet bottomlands, , beech forests on slopes between uplands , bottomlands. ground composed of tertiary period rocks known producing high-quality clay.

the mounds complex can divided 3 sections— inner section, situated @ center of complex around saul s mound, western (or ozier) section, , eastern section, includes geometric enclosure. stream known hudson branch runs perpendicular forked deer river , divides inner section western section. eastern , western sections both 1,500 meters inner section. (click for map)

the pinson mounds complex managed tennessee department of environment , conservation. western section managed tennessee division of forestry , includes nursery , irrigation pond. pinson mounds state archaeological park located appx. 2.5 miles east of town of pinson , approximately 10 miles southeast of jackson.