Alas, Poor Yorick: Investigation Yields Some Answers on Elliston Place Skull

NASHVILLE, TN — Archaeologists and historians have answered some questions about the skull found during an Elliston Place construction project, but its likely the identity of its owner will remain a mystery.

On June 8, 2015, a construction crew working at Elliston and 21st Avenue were digging a narrow trench when a partially-intact skull emerged from the street rubble. Per state law, construction immediately stopped and the sheriff, coroner and the state Division of Archaeology were immediately notified.

The skull was found in a layer of soil below intact rail lines from the old streetcar line that runs through what is now Midtown and there were no other grave shafts present. Given the depth of the skull and the absence of artifacts, the initial assessment was that the skull was not Native American or prehistoric.

The archaeologists have since confirmed that assessment. Investigators believe the skull is from the 19th century and likely was a burial from one of the landowners in what was, at the time, an area full of large farms, including one owned by the Ellistons themselves. It was also determined that that the burial had been previously disturbed by the installation of a water pipe in the early 20th century and that project is likely what separated the skull from the rest of the body.

Dr. Shannon Hodge from MTSU's Department of Sociology and Archaeology analyzed the skull. Hodge believes it to be from a male who was at least 40 years old who had some arthritis and likely performed a lot of heavy lifting, according to a report from the Tennessee Archaeology Council. Because the skull was broken and there were no other remains, Hodge was unable to make any other determinations.