Link Farm Site
Link Farm State Archaeological Area (40HS6) · Duck River Temple Mounds · Duck River Site
Mississippian (Middle–Late, Thruston–Dallas)·Mississippian (Western Valley)·🇺🇸 Tennessee, Humphreys County, United States
About
About Link Farm Site
Extraordinary 51-mound Mississippian complex (c.1100–1500 CE) on bluffs above the Duck and Buffalo River confluence — largest mound count in Tennessee, with mounds clustered in two groups across 1.6 km ridge, 1-mile habitational area, terraced ceremonial platforms, high-status residences and charnel mounds. Famous for the Duck River Cache — 46 pristine Dover chert bifaces and 8 ceremonial swords (1936), pinnacle of Mississippian flintknapping, and for paired Link Farm sandstone statues (male/female) now in McClung Museum. Managed as State Archaeological Area via Johnsonville State Park.
Why it mattersPinnacle Dover chert cache and statuary; largest mound-count town east of Mississippi, illuminates craft specialization and chiefly wealth.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why 51 mounds — most in southeastern US — clustered on narrow ridge
- 02Cache function: dedicatory offering vs knapping master's store
Theories
- 01Link Farm as Dover quarry workshop town monopolizing Tennessee River chert ceremonial biface trade
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1100–1500 CE
- Period
- Mississippian (Middle–Late, Thruston–Dallas)
- Culture
- Mississippian (Western Valley)
- Builders
- Mississippian (Link Farm polity)
- Purpose
- Super-center mound town, craft production (Dover chert) and regional aggregation plaza
- Abandoned
- c.1500 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1894 Duck River Cache; mapped by Nash/Lewis 1936
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
35.9852° N · 87.7855° W · 120 m · 2 mapped features
Duck River Cache findspot hillock
structureLow hillock where 46 Dover chert bifaces cached December 1894
35.9860° N · 87.7850° WCentral plaza mound cluster
moundLargest terrace platform in northern cluster, summit civic building footprint
35.9845° N · 87.7860° W
Gallery