Prehistory of Jackson & Madison County By: Timothy Poole The prehistoric indigenous peoples of Madison County left significant evidence of its importance to their lives. The county is home to a number of prehistoric earthworks, most focused along the Forked Deer River and built during the Middle Woodland period. Of these earthworks, the Pinson Mounds complex identifies both the First People’s dedication to this area and the role of this area in their cross-continental trade. Preserved as Pinson Mounds State Archeological Park through the initiative of several local residents in the 1960s, this site is listed both as a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Pinson Mounds complex includes Sauls Mound, a 72-foot platform mound, built approximately 2000 years ago. Theorized to be the central mound of a solar/lunar calendar marked by strategically placed earthworks, Sauls Mound was the tallest man-made structure in the

Founding of Jackson/Madison County By: Robert Briley The western part of this great state is the Plateau of West Tennessee. This area averages less than 300 ft above sea level and is the lowest part of Tennessee, however, it has some of the greatest forest, rivers, streams, and fertile soil in all the south. Carved out of this land in the 19th century was Madison County and its seat of government, Jackson. This is the brief history of its founding. In the 15th century prior to European arrival, West Tennessee was the home of numerous Native American Tribes such as the Mound Builders, Woodland Indians, and Mississippians. The greatest evidence of this can be found south of Jackson at the Pinson Mounds. The mounds found here are ceremonial mounds built between 200 B.C. and A.D. 500, during the Middle Woodland Period. These Native Americans built a series of at least 15