Uncategorized patrickmead on 05 Jul 2010 01:52 am
A Tennessee Fortress (Hidden History)
I have no idea why people don’t travel more to see Adena sites. They aren’t hidden, though many are ignored. Even the keepers of the Official Story agree that the Adena were an incredible people…but I doubt that 5% of Americans even know their name.
Outside Manchester, Tennessee are the remains of a major Adena fortress-city in the mode of Fort Ancient in Ohio. On a mountain top near where the Duck and the Little Duck rivers join, the walls of this enclosure are shockingly long. One wall is 1,394 feet long, another is 1,094 feet. The north wall is — are you sitting down? — 2,116 feet long and it runs perfectly straight. The walls are punctuated at several places by pedestals. A “pedestal” is an opening in the wall flanked by minor mounds. They vary in size from 35 feet to 48 feet in diameter. The walls are six feet tall and surround an enclosure greater than 50 acres. It is thought that the Adena began this construction in 80AD and worked on it, building, adjusting, repairing for another five hundred years. As I write this, America is celebrating 234 years since the Declaration of Independence. Imagine… five hundred years this civilization lived on that mountain and we know next to nothing about it.
The Adena were exceptional people for their time… who am I kidding?… for any time. One skull taken from the C. L. Lewis Stone Mound has teeth in it, one of which is still capped by a metal cap. Yep — dentistry. It wasn’t ornamental; it actually held the tooth in place. Thirteen plates have been found in Adena mounds that are elaborately carved. Traces of pigment on them give us a clue to their use: they were used to temporarily tattoo people, perhaps when they reached a certain age or rank in society. Their pipes were elaborately carved, many times with the figures of dwarves (technically, they suffered from chondrodystrophic dwarfism). Only one skeleton of a dwarf has been found in the mounds. There are lots of theories about why this might be but, truthfully, we know nothing for certain.
These people were the first to settle and raise squash, raspberries, walnuts, sunflowers, pumpkin, and corn as a regular part of their diet. They knew art, music, and societal organization. Some of the Adena had their heads elongated, probably by having boards tied to the sides of their skulls while they were children. It is assumed that these people were patricians or priests of the Adena.
But… where did they come from? Next time…
patrickmead
on 05 Jul 2010 at 5:40 pm # rc
Boards? Are you sure they weren’t descendents of Lucy?
on 05 Jul 2010 at 9:14 pm # Dan GIll
I find it amazing that I have never heard of the Adena, considering what a history buff I am. It just goes to prove your point with these posts about how anything but the official story is marginalized.
The Adena are certainly part of the official story but, for some reason, they are ignored. The only two reasons I can come up with is that the Adena’s origins and decline are wrapped in mystery and 2) the official (and politically correct) story is that Native Americans were living in a paradise with which they lived in noble harmony. The idea that they are devolved from a grander civilization and the truth of their endemic violence, wastefulness, and constant warfare is not deemed acceptable for a wider audience.
on 06 Jul 2010 at 3:11 am # Vicky Pruitt
Patrick, Have you been to the mounds in Moundsville, Alabama. Moundsville is close to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. You lived in B’ham, maybe you had the opportunity to go there. I’m wondering if these are the mounds of the Adena or if they are of ‘local’ native American tribes. I was there when I was in the 7th grade. I’m 61 now…so I don’t remember ‘who’ they are ascribed to be. Don’t know if what we were told was the party line or if they were hidden people. I don’t even what they said, too long ago. I’m enjoying your series so much. Thank you for writing it!
Vicki, we will be looking at the culture that built Moundville, Alabama. It flourished between the 11th and 15th centuries and was called the Mississippian culture. Wikipedia has a short article on it. We’ll give a lot more info in the Hidden History blog, of course.
on 06 Jul 2010 at 1:28 pm # Bobby Smith
Ok Wow! I have loved (really had a high fondness and excitement about) this series sense you restarted it last year. But this was incredible!!! I literally sat with my jaw hanging open in amazement that i had never heard of this city in Tennessee. Not cool American Schools! This is really cool stuff that would have astounded the young Bobby smith instead of Boring Him with the We came and found “Indians” and taught them stuff and they gave us food.
Thanks Patric for giving me some fun History!!
I’ve often thought I would have made a good history professor. Except I’m not sure I would have worked well within the standard education model. I’ve never gotten a smiley face in “plays well with others.“