Center For Transportation Research

Archaeological research in East Tennessee adjacent areas has established a chronology dating back 17,000 years. The information from these investigations provides a basis for an understanding of the cultural chronology that would be expected in this region. A summary of the traits and attributes of each prehistoric time period follows.

• Paleo-Indian (15000 - 8000 B.C.)
  
• Archaic (8000-900 B.C.)
  
• Early Archaic (8000-6000 B.C.)
  
• Middle Archaic (6000-3500 B.C.)
  
• Late Archaic (3500-900 B.C.)
  
• Terminal Archaic (A.D. 600 - 900)
  
• Woodland (900 B.C.-A.D. 900)
  
• Early Woodland (900-200 B.C.)
  
• Middle Woodland (300 B.C.- A.D. 600)
  
• Late Woodland (A.D. 600-950)
  
• Late Prehistoric (A.D. 900-1750)
  
• Martin Farm Phase (A.D. 900-1000)
  
• Hiwassee Island Phase (A.D. 1000-1300)
  
• Pisgah Phase (A.D. 1000-1400)
  
• Dallas Phase (A.D. 1300-1600)
  
• Mouse Creek Phase (A.D. 1400 - 1600)
  
• Protohistoric and Historic Native American (A.D. 1540-1840)
  
• Overhill Cherokee Phase (A.D. 1600-1819)
  
• Cherokee
  
• Creek
  
• Yuchi
  
• Early Exploration and Trade in Tennessee (A.D. 1690-1770)
  
• Frontier Period (A.D. 1770-1800)
  

This page was last updated on 20 Jan 2002.