Flood unearths history at David Crockett Birthplace State Park

ERWIN — On his lunch breaks, Park Ranger Jonathan Chinouth would walk through David Crockett Birthplace State Park and pick up 10 to 30 pieces of things he found that were unearthed after Hurricane Helene flooded the park, and noted them down for a team of archaeologists. That's what he shared at the Unicoi County Public Library on Friday evening to a crowd of almost 70 people that showed up to learn about archaeological work that's unfolded at the state park since the flood. Sierra Bow, archaeologist at the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, explained how her team assessed the park in the months after the flood and why it was important. In December 2024, they discovered over 500 diagnostic artifacts at the park. They found artifacts from around 8,000 to 9,000 B.C. up to 1600 A.D., along with what washed away from more modern life. "We have a pretty long span of occupation," Bow said. Park and Tennessee Division of Archaeology staff have been working together to note and preserve any kind of historical artifacts that were displaced and exposed at the park since the flood, and what it could show about this area's history. "What we noticed was that there was so much more human interaction along the Nolichucky long before the Crocketts were there," Chinouth said. With the force of the flooding — almost three times as fast as water at Niagara Falls in its peak season — it's difficult to determine what was washed down to David Crockett Birthplace State Park or was already in the park area, Bow said. But it gave them information about how people were utilizing the waterway throughout history. The team of archaeologists took the time to examine the park two to three months after the flood, and again in the spring. When they initially walked the park, it was with a specific eye toward an archaeological site at the park with historic materials from a time before the Southern Appalachians were discovered by Spanish conquistadors and what artifacts could have been exposed. "We can learn a lot about how people were living in the past," Bow said. Botanical and animal remains discovered can also give greater insight into environmental data from thousands of years ago. David Crockett Birth Place State Park is embarking on its "Rebirth Master Plan," which will include the construction of a visitor center and new museum, which might even feature some of the artifacts discovered in the recovery process. Chinouth said the park will continue to work with Bow's team throughout that construction process. Jorgelina Manna-Rea is a Report for America corps member reporting on issues relating to the environment for Six Rivers Media.