Introduction to the Special Section: Paleoindian Archaeology of the Tennessee Valley

ABSTRACT Perspectives on the Paleoindian occupation of the unglaciated eastern United States have changed significantly in the last 25 years. Historically, the Midsouth riverine region has been described as consisting of few true sites but many isolated projectile points, with Paleoindians rarely participating in the behaviors that produce sites. Due to the efforts of individuals such as Charles M. Hubbert, however, we know this is no longer a tenable interpretation. In this perspective, the author provides a brief overview of the influence of Hubbert and places his career within a historical context. Hubbert spent much of his career working in the Tennessee Valley, and the papers in this special section highlight new research efforts in the Tennessee Valley and Midsouth. The author also introduces the set of three papers that make up this special section of this issue of PaleoAmerica.