Tennessee Agricultural Museum Displays Native American Earthenware Pots and More
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Located in South Nashville, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum is part of the Ellington Agricultural Center campus and features more than 3,000 artifacts honoring the rich, rural history of farmers, foresters and agriculture statewide. The museum’s mission is to preserve, interpret, and educate the public and especially young people about agriculture and forestry in Tennessee. The unique historical collection housed at the museum, along with educational programs and events, attract visitors from across the globe.
One of the special exhibits at the museum is the Native American exhibit, which contains two rare pieces of Mississippian pottery used in food storage and preparation. The prehistoric Mississippian culture lived during the period of A.D. 800 to A.D. 1600 in the southeastern and midwestern parts of the U.S., which include what now is the state of Tennessee. Researchers determined the Mississippian culture was the first to practice agriculture on a large-scale basis growing corn, beans, vegetables and sunflowers. The Mississippian culture was not recognized as a single tribe, but a society of Native Americans with related ways of life and beliefs.
Brandon Stephens, curator for the Tennessee Agricultural Museum, is excited about the addition of the earthenware pots and what they have discovered about these rare artifacts. He is equally eager to share this information with museum visitors and researchers around the world.
See more: How the Tennessee Agricultural Museum Is Preserving the State’s History
“The pots were discovered by a farmer on his family’s property in the rural area of Franklin, Tennessee,” Stephens says. “Later, the family donated the artifacts to the museum. One of the pots is in amazingly good shape and highly ornate. The other pot is in fair condition. It was broken and reconstructed before we received it. These items could have been used for high feasts, religious ceremonies, food preparation, storing water, cooking or storing medicine.”
In 2022, the Tennessee Agricultural Museum team worked with archaeologists and Professor and Director of Anthropology Dr. Kevin E. Smith at Middle Tennessee State University to study and research the structure of the pots and the materials from which they were made. In addition, they created high-quality 3D scans and extensive photographs of each artifact.
These efforts will enable staff to share findings with museum visitors and with other researchers across the globe.
The Native American artifact collection at the museum continues to grow and there are plans to make it a permanent exhibit later this year. The exhibit will also feature some artifacts that can be shared with other museums and libraries.
If You Go…
Tennessee Agricultural Museum
Location: 404 Hogan Road, Nashville
Hours: Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: (615) 837-5197
Website: tn.gov/agmuseum
While you are there: Check out the 1927 Fordson tractor, 1909 John Deere grain binder, historic quilt dating back to 1792, the animal treadmill, hog oiler and the dogtrot cabin.