Digging Deeper: Teachers Learn Archaeology Through Indigenous Voices at Bells Bend

Nashville, TN --- Long before Nashville became Music City, generations of Indigenous peoples called the Cumberland River valley home. They hunted, farmed, traveled its waterways, and built thriving communities whose stories are still written across the landscape today.

Last week, August 7-8, educators from across the United States gathered at Bells Bend Outdoor Center for the nationally recognized Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art workshop, which is an immersive professional development experience that will help teachers bring archaeology, Indigenous history, science and art together in meaningful ways for students.

The workshop was led by Project Archaeology Facilitator Krista Allen, along with Sarah Bellos, former and current staff Naturalists of Bells Bend Outdoor Center, and coordinated by LinnAnn Welch, center manager and Tennessee State Coordinator for Project Archaeology for nearly 30 years.

Through her leadership and commitment to heritage education, Welch has helped expand Project Archaeology across Tennessee, connecting educators with curriculum that blends archaeology, environmental education and Indigenous history through authentic, place-based experiences. Tennessee was awarded the Outstanding State Project Archaeology Program from the national organization in July.

"Stewardship means caring for more than the land; it means honoring the people whose stories are connected to it," said Monique Horton Odom, Director, Metro Parks and Recreation. "This workshop reflected Metro Parks' commitment to preserving cultural heritage while giving educators meaningful experiences they could carry back to classrooms throughout Tennessee."

The two-day workshop invited teachers to experience history where it happened. Through hands-on investigations, outdoor exploration and place-based learning, participants examined how archaeological evidence, including the remarkable Native American rock art found at nearby Mace Bluff, helps tell the stories of the people who lived throughout Tennessee for thousands of years.

The workshop also featured a special cultural presentation by LaDonna Brown, a nationally recognized educator, artist and citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, who shared the traditions, artistic heritage and enduring culture of her people while emphasizing the importance of preserving Indigenous history through authentic voices.

"I appreciate the inclusion of Native communities and cultural diversity. I have never seen this before and it is greatly needed," said LaDonna Brown.

More than 13,000 years of human history are represented throughout the Cumberland River Valley, making Bells Bend one of Middle Tennessee's most significant archaeological landscapes. Archaeologists have documented 67 archaeological sites within the Bells Bend area, with evidence spanning from the earliest Paleoindian peoples through the Woodland and Mississippian periods.

By studying these remarkable cultural resources, educators gain tools to help students understand archaeology not simply as the discovery of objects, but to connect people, places and stories across generations.

For more information, go to: Bells Bend Outdoor Center Page

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About Project Archaeology
Project Archaeology is a national heritage education program established in 1990 that provides award-winning educational resources for teachers while promoting the preservation of archaeological sites and cultural heritage through inquiry-based learning.

Event Information: Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art

Dates: August 7-8, 2026

Location: Bells Bend Outdoor Center, Metro Parks and Recreation

Teachers participated in indoor instruction, outdoor field experiences, archaeological investigations and a cultural presentation exploring Indigenous history, archaeology and Native American rock art.

Media Contact:

Jackie Jones @ (615) 862-8400 / (629) 305-7075

Heather Hyland @ (615) 862-8400 Extension 72928