Opryland Site

Echoes from the Archaic period (9000–1000 BCE) still linger beneath the surface, ready to tell stories of Middle Tennessee’s earliest inhabitants. Stone artifacts provide rare glimpses into their world. At this site, a 1968 archaeological shovel test pit—a small, methodical excavation—revealed projectile point bases, a stone drill, a hammer, and other tools, offering evidence of the people who once lived and thrived here.

One of the most common finds from Archaic sites is flakes—thin, sharp-edged pieces left behind when shaping stone tools. Indigenous peoples made projectile points, drills, and hammers by striking chert—a fine-grained rock—using stone or deer antlers. The force created a distinct bulb-like flake pattern, helping archaeologists identify tool-making sites.

During the Archaic period, projectile points evolved to include notches at their bases, allowing them to be securely fastened to spear shafts with twine or sinew. One of the most significant technological advances used in this era was the atlatl, a spear-throwing device that extended the thrower’s reach, allowing spears to be hurled with greater force and distance—revolutionizing hunting.

Chert, especially Fort Payne chert, was the preferred material for projectile points in the Nashville Basin. This high-quality stone was sourced from west of Nashville, near the Duck, Buffalo, and Tennessee Rivers. Although the original stone artifacts from the Opryland site no longer exist, they were likely made from this chert.

Archaic peoples lived in hunter-gatherer societies, moving seasonally to follow food sources and resources. They often had winter base camps, but whether this Opryland site was a more permanent settlement or a temporary stop remains unknown. What is certain, however, is that Indigenous peoples lived and worked here, using the nearby Cumberland River as both a resource and a highway through the landscape.

Though modern development has erased physical traces of this past, the story of the Archaic peoples lives on through the artifacts they left behind—offering a rare connection to thousands of years of history beneath Nashville’s surface. We have one more stop that takes us to Bells Bend. Even if you decide not to travel in-person to the last stop, please listen to the narrative and conclusion. There are some great images too!

If you do decide to drive to Bells Bend, head back along Opry Mills Drive and turn RIGHT onto McGavock Pike. Then turn LEFT onto Briley Parkway North. Stay on that road about 12 miles. Take Exit 24 and turn RIGHT onto Ashland City Highway. In about 3 miles, turn LEFT onto Old Hickory Boulevard and stay straight on that road about 4.5 miles. Turn RIGHT to enter the Bells Bend Outdoor Center. If you want to do a little more walking, take the trail behind the outdoor center and walk about 0.7 miles as you listen to the stop.