Bells Bend

Here we are at Bells Bend, our final stop, which represents a crossroads in time. Nestled along the Cumberland River, Indigenous communities once thrived in villages much like the one you see before you. The river—called Wasioto by the Shawnee people who lived here until the early 18th century—was a lifeline that shaped settlement, agriculture, and trade. Its fertile floodplains sustained these villages for thousands of years, just as modern highways connect distant regions today. The Cumberland served as an ancient trade route, allowing for the swift transport of people and goods across vast distances.

Bells Bend has been home to Indigenous peoples for over 13,000 years, with 67 known archaeological sites dating from the First Americans through the Mississippian period. This particular site dates from the Mississippian period, when populations flourished in large, organized settlements. During this time, people built permanent villages and mound centers along major waterways, relying on floodplain agriculture to cultivate maize, beans, and squash alongside wild plants and animals.

Mississippian towns were carefully planned around central plazas, serving as hubs for ceremony, governance, and daily life. These civic centers controlled networks of smaller villages and farmsteads, forming a complex, interdependent society.

Pottery discovered here reflects the artistic styles and techniques of the era, including effigies—sculptural representations of animals or people made from ceramic, wood, or stone. A notable find at Bells Bend is an owl-shaped water bottle, created using a shell-tempering technique that strengthened the clay. Shell tempering, which became widespread during the Mississippian period, enhanced pottery’s durability, making it more resistant to heat and everyday use.

Beyond pottery, archaeologists have uncovered a variety of tools, including scrapers, projectile points, drills, and blades. The discoveries at Bells Bend offer a rare window into the past, allowing us to envision the bustling communities that once thrived along the Cumberland River. Though time has reshaped the landscape, the legacy of the Mississippian people remains.

**The Augmented Reality (AR) models will only work in specific points at the site. Open the link and hold your phone up to allow the model to calibrate to the landscape. You should see the model projected in front of you.

From the Bells Bend Nature Center, take the River Loop Trail to the west and stay on the trail traveling west. The trail will intersect with the Dove Farm Loop Trail. Take the Dove Farm Loop Trail west until it splits. At the split in front of you will be a large open field, face the large open field (looking northwest) for the AR model.**

Congratulations! You've completed the Indigenous Peoples and Archaeology driving tour on Nashville Sites. We hope you've enjoyed learning about our city’s ancient history. Please consider making a small donation so that we can continue to create engaging tours that are free and accessible to all. Don’t forget to post pictures and tag us on @NashvilleSites. Thank you for joining us—this is Savannah Willow McNabb signing off.