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Consent

Brentwood City Commission Agenda

Meeting Date:	11/09/2020
Resolution 2020-119 - A Resolution Authorizing Use of the City-Owned Artifacts for Archeological Study
Submitted by:	Jay Evans, Administration
Department:	Administration

Information

Subject

Resolution 2020-119 - A Resolution Authorizing Use of the City-Owned Artifacts for Archeological Study

Background

The City of Brentwood has received a request from Mr. Charles R. Cobb, Professor of Historical Archeology at the University of Florida regarding the proposed study of non-mortuary pottery artifacts owned by the City of Brentwood, and currently held by the State of Tennessee Division of Archeology. The artifacts were unearthed as part of the archeological study that was conducted in the 1990's during construction of the Brentwood Library. Professor Cobb has requested to use 40 pottery shards out of over 6,400 samples being held by the State. The intent of the research is to explore the potential reasons that early and late Mississippian Native Americans vacated much of mid-continental North America during the 15th century A.D.

The archeological study being conducted involves a number of sites in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi, and is a joint effort amongst Professor Cobb, Tony Boudreaux (University of Mississippi), and Tony Krus (University of South Dakota), as principal investigators, and Brad Lieb (Chickasaw Nation) as a primary collaborator. The researchers hope to analyze the composition of pottery across a number of Mississippian sites to provide information about the migration of those peoples. They have received approval from the Tennessee State Archeologist, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Army Corps.of Engineers (Archeological Resources Protection Permit) for analysis of pottery shards at a variety of sites, including local sites such as Kellytown (northwest of Brentwood), Gordontown (Davidson County), and Sellars Farm (Wilson County).

The investigative techniques to be used in this study are what as known as "minimally destructive analysis," which means there is a portion of each sample that is lost to the procedure. A thin slice is removed from edges of the shards so that a high-powered microscope can be used on the newly exposed edge to examine its composition. A secondary request is to analyze carbonized botanical samples (wood charcoal, for example) for the purpose of radiocarbon dating. That process is also destructive, though today's technology allows very tiny samples to be used, literally the size of a pencil lead.

The Tennessee Division of Archeology will utilize loan forms for any artifacts that leave their facility. This formal paper trail would include for the purpose of this study copies to the City of Brentwood. Professor Cobb has requested one year to conduct his analysis.

This request was reviewed by the Brentwood Historic Commission on October 16. They unanimously recommended approval to the City Commission.

Please contact the Assistant City Manager with any questions.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of the attached Resolution.

Fiscal Impact

Attachments
Resolution 2020-119
Exhibit A - Project Description
Signed Resolution