Nikwasi facts for kids
Eastern side of Nikwasi mound
|
|
 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Modern day Franklin, North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°11′06″N 83°22′25″W / 35.18499°N 83.37360°W |
| History | |
| Abandoned | 1819 |
| Cultures | South Appalachian Mississippian; Cherokee |
| Events | 1727 Treaty of Nikwasi |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mound, c.1000 CE |
Nikwasi (pronounced "Nee-kwa-see") comes from the Cherokee word for "star." It is the site of an ancient Cherokee town. This town was first written about in the early 1700s by European settlers. However, it is much older than that. The town once covered about 100 acres. It was located on the flat land near the Little Tennessee River. Today, the town of Franklin, North Carolina has grown up around this historic site.
The most important part of the old town still standing is a large platform mound. Experts believe this mound was built around the year 1000 CE. The town of Franklin has owned and protected the mound since 1946. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed under the name "Nequasee."
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is working to get back their traditional lands. This includes sacred mounds like Nikwasi. In 2019, the town of Franklin gave the Nikwasi mound to the Nikwasi Initiative. This is a non-profit group started by the EBCI.
Contents
History of Nikwasi
The town of Nikwasi was founded a long time ago. It might have been built before the mid-1500s. It even shows up on a map from 1566. The first time it was mentioned in British records was in 1718.
Nikwasi was a very important place for the local Cherokee people. It was a spiritual and cultural center. They called it one of the "Mother Towns" of their homeland. The Cherokee kept a special "ever-burning sacred fire" at Nikwasi. This fire was in the fire pit of their main meeting house. This meeting house was built on top of the mound. The fire had been burning since the start of their culture. Every Cherokee meeting house had a fire pit for it.
In 1721, a count of the people in Nikwasi was done. It found 162 Native people living there. There were 53 men, 50 women, and 59 children.
Treaties and Meetings
The Cherokee people built their main meeting hall on top of the central platform mound. This was a common way for them to build public buildings. It allowed the whole community to gather together. The people of Nikwasi likely met with colonial visitors here.
In 1727, a group from Charleston, South Carolina came to Nikwasi. Colonel John Herbert took part in a treaty meeting there. This meeting happened in the town's meeting house on December 3, 1727.
Later, in 1730, a British ambassador named Alexander Cuming visited Nikwasi. He met with the Cherokee leader, Moytoy of Tellico. Cuming tried to make Moytoy the "Emperor" of the Cherokee. He also tried to get all Cherokee people to promise loyalty to King George II. This treaty was mostly followed until 1741.
Dealing with European Settlers
In the summer of 1761, the Nikwasi meeting house was used as a hospital. This happened during a war between the English and the Cherokee. The English were fighting the Cherokee and their allies during the French and Indian War. A British leader named James Grant led this attack. His forces destroyed most of the town. However, the Cherokee people rebuilt Nikwasi.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Cherokee sided with the British. They hoped the British would help them keep settlers off their land. In 1776, American rebel forces attacked Nikwasi. They burned the town and its farms to the ground. After a very hard winter, the town asked for peace. The Cherokee rebuilt Nikwasi again and continued to live there.
After the Revolutionary War, more European-Americans moved west. They settled in Native American lands. In 1819, the U.S. government forced the Cherokee in this area to give up their lands. They had to move to the Qualla Boundary. At this time, Nikwasi mound and 690 acres around it were bought by European-Americans. This forced movement of Native Americans became stronger in the 1830s.
The Ancient Mound
The Nikwasi platform mound is easy to see today. Many drivers pass by it daily on US 441 Business in downtown Franklin. The mound has been kept in good condition. You can still clearly see the ramp that leads up to its flat top.
In 2009, a special survey was done using ground-penetrating radar. This survey showed that the bottom of the mound is covered by one to two meters of dirt. This dirt is a mix of natural river deposits and dirt added by people. This means the mound used to be taller and more impressive. It was a more important part of the landscape long ago. The mound was built by the ancestors of the Cherokee. They were part of the South Appalachian Mississippian culture. It is believed to have been built around the year 1000 CE.
The mound was owned by private individuals for over 100 years. In 1946, the town of Franklin raised money to buy and protect it. Even schoolchildren helped by donating money for this cause. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is now working to get more control over the mound. They are doing this through the "Nikwasi Initiative." This group plans to make the mound a key part of the "Nikwasi-Cowee Corridor." This is an EBCI plan to show off Nikwasi mound and the nearby Cowee Mound. Cowee Mound is another ancient platform mound located north of Franklin.
Studying the Mound
._(32347857503).jpg)
The mound site is named after the historic Cherokee town. This town once covered about 100 acres. It was first written about in English records in the early 1700s. The mound's top was likely where the Cherokee's main meeting house stood. This is based on the ramp facing southeast and the 2009 radar survey. Cherokee leaders hosted British and American visitors here for many years.
Only one small test hole was dug at Nikwasi by archaeologists. This happened in 1963. The mound is in excellent condition today. This is partly because it was never dug up by the Smithsonian Institution in the 1880s. Many other ancient mounds were excavated then. In 1980, the mound was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as "Nequasee."
Protecting Nikwasi
In 2012, the town of Franklin sprayed chemicals on the mound to control grass. The Eastern Band of the Cherokee saw this as disrespectful. Their chief, Michell Hicks, asked for the site to be given to the Eastern Band. The town refused at that time.
As mentioned, the Eastern Band later formed the Nikwasi Initiative. This non-profit group works to develop and explain the history of Cherokee sites. These sites are found along the Little Tennessee River.
In 2017, the Eastern Band bought a building next to the mound. They are thinking about turning it into a museum. In May 2019, the town of Franklin gave the mound to the Nikwasi Initiative. In July 2019, the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee voted to give $300,000 to the Nikwasi Initiative.
In 2020, the Mainspring Conservation Trust bought Watauga Mound. This is another historic town site north of Franklin. Mainspring is working with the EBCI and Nikwasi Initiative. Their goal is to protect this property. They want it to be part of the Nikwasi-Cowee Corridor.
