Yuchi Town Site facts for kids
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Yuchi Town Site
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The site today.
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| Location | Fort Benning Russell County, Alabama United States |
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| Built | 1650 |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000453 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1996 |
| Designated NHL | June 19, 1996 |
Yuchi Town Site, also known as Yuchi Town, is an ancient place where archaeologists have found signs of people living there long ago. It was home to two Native American groups: the Apalachicola and the Yuchi tribes. This special site is hidden away in Fort Benning, in Russell County, Alabama.
Yuchi Town shows how Native American cultures worked to keep their traditions alive. They did this even when European settlers arrived and the United States grew bigger. Because of its importance, Yuchi Town was named a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
Discovering Yuchi Town's Past
Archaeologists study places like Yuchi Town to learn about people who lived long ago. They dig carefully to find objects left behind. These objects help us understand how people lived, what they ate, and what their beliefs were.
The Apalachicola People
The Yuchi Town site was first a village for the Apalachicola people. This was around the years 1650 to 1715. During this time, Spanish explorers and settlers were in the area.
Archaeologists found graves, old pottery, and special trade beads from this period. These items tell us about the Apalachicola way of life. The Spanish even set up a short-lived mission nearby. They also had soldiers in a town called Apalachicola.
The Apalachicola people worked with the Spanish in Florida. They were against the English settlers who were in the Carolinas. Sadly, the Apalachicola culture eventually disappeared.
The Yuchi Tribe's Journey
After the Apalachicola, the Yuchi tribe lived at Yuchi Town. They stayed there until 1836. This was when they were moved to Indian Territory, which is now part of Oklahoma.
The Yuchi people often changed which European powers they supported. They lived in the Savannah River valley first. But they were defeated by the Cherokee tribe in 1681.
Then, they moved to the Ocmulgee River valley until 1716. After that, they settled near the Chattahoochee River. This is when they founded Yuchi Town. It is the largest known village site connected to the Yuchi tribe. Over time, the growing United States frontier caused them to move again.
