Nununyi facts for kids
| Location | Swain County, North Carolina,  USA |
|---|---|
| Region | Swain County, North Carolina |
| History | |
| Cultures | South Appalachian Mississippian culture, historic period Cherokee |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | platform mound |
| Architectural details | Number of temples: |
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Nununyi Mound and Village Site
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| Area | 44 acres (18 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002901 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 1980 |
Nununyi (or Nuanha) was an important historic village of the Cherokee people in western North Carolina. It was located on the eastern side of the Oconaluftee River. Today, this area is part of the modern town of Cherokee in Swain County. English traders and colonists called Nununyi one of the "Out Towns" of the Cherokee in this region.
The ancient site of "Nununyi Mound and Village Site" shows signs of people from the Mississippian culture and later the historic Cherokee. This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is a special place protected for its historical value.
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Where Nununyi Was Located
The Nununyi Mound and Village site is found on the east side of the Oconaluftee River. It is in a flat area called bottomland. This area is now within the town of Cherokee, North Carolina. The site was officially recognized as an archaeological site in 1980.
A Look at Nununyi's History
Nununyi is thought to be one of the oldest Cherokee communities. It was built along the Oconaluftee River. Like many towns in this area, it grew around a single platform mound. A platform mound is a large, flat-topped hill made of earth. People of the South Appalachian Mississippian culture likely built this mound.
Building the Mound and Village
A village probably grew around the mound around 1000 CE. Even older groups of people lived in this part of the Southeast as early as 8000 to 1000 BC.
When the Cherokee people later settled here, they built a special building called a townhouse on top of the earthwork mound. This townhouse was a place where everyone in the community could gather. It was a central spot for meetings and ceremonies. When an old townhouse needed to be replaced, it would be taken down and burned. Then, a new layer of soil was added to the mound. A new townhouse was then built on top. Over time, these actions made the mound grow larger and wider.
Nununyi During the Revolutionary War
In May 1776, an American botanist named William Bartram visited the area. He listed Nununyi, which he spelled "Nuanha," among 43 Cherokee towns. He noted that people lived in all these towns.
During the American Revolutionary War, the American colonies fought against the British. The Cherokee people allied with the British. Because of this, the colonies of Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia launched attacks against the Cherokee towns. In September 1776, General Griffith Rutherford led an attack. As part of this, soldiers under Colonel William Moore attacked Nununyi and other "Out Towns." These attacks caused much damage to the Cherokee communities.
Later Names for the Area
After the war, in 1790, the Oconaluftee River was sometimes called the "Nunai" river on land maps. This name likely came from "Nununyi." Older maps also show different spellings like "Newni." This spelling appeared on George Hunter's Map (1730) and Thomas Kitchin's Map (1760).
Nununyi Today
The main platform mound at Nununyi is still mostly in good condition. In 1883, two brothers, the Valentines, did some digging here. They were looking for artifacts for their father's museum.
In 1950, the mound was about one mile upriver from the town of Cherokee. Today, the town has grown and now includes the mound area. The site is on the eastern side of the Oconaluftee River. It is in a flat bottomland area that is about 65 to 70 acres in size. The Valentine brothers also found a clay pit nearby, about 800 feet from the mound. This pit was likely where the earth for the mound came from.
In the late 20th century, the mound and old town site were recognized as an important archaeological site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Cherokee High School was built close to this historical site. Some parts of the outer archaeological site have been damaged by new buildings and roads.
