Old Madison Pike, Huntsville, Madison County

The Old Madison Pike site is located along Old Madison Pike approximately 300 yards east of Indian Creek. Over 100 pieces and complete arrowheads were found at the site.

The artifacts obtained from the Old Madison Pike field site are greatly varied. The arrowheads found here were similar to those found 1 mile north along Indian Creek at newly developed land within Research Park and along Slaughter Road, Burwell Mountain, Beaverdam Creek, and Wade Mountain. The artifacts recovered from these sites reflect similarity in the types of flint and the flaking methods. The fact that similar flint was found at these sites points to the fact that the Native Americans in these regions may have traveled along Indian Creek back and forth between these distances for hunting and gathering.

One set of arrowheads is larger and more patinated. The older arrowheads originated from a more primitive tribe, most likely Archaic. Indians made larger arrowheads for larger game, such as the great wooly mammoths, bears, and maybe even saber-toothed tigers. Larger game animal were hunted with atalts. Atalts were used to project a large spearhead using throwing sticks and atlatl weights. Atalts were capable of throwing a spear up to 100 yards. As the larger animals became extinct, the remaining game, such as deer, rabbits, raccoons, opossum, and birds were hunted using smaller arrowheads and birdpoints through the use of a bow and arrow.

A piece of pottery that identifies the newcomers of this land was also discovered at Old Madison Pike. A British piece of pottery know as a White Star was found here indicating a presence of early settlers after 1780.

The population at Old Madison Pike was centralized and could have maintained up to 100 individuals in family groups.