Archaeology of The Appalachian Region

An exciting journey through the history and ancient mysteries held within the mountains of Appalachia   . . . 

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A Guide to the History of The Smokies and Beyond

​The entire Appalachian region is alive with fascinating history, ranging from ancient to colonial events. These mountains hold many clues as to the migration and settlement of early natives, while other secrets lay hidden, waiting to be discovered. 

About the Area:
Though many people may think of this part of the country in terms of North and South, The Appalachian Mountains are technically divided into five sub-regions: Southern, South-Central, Central, North-Central, and Northern. In this article I will combine the Southern and South-Central regions due to the close proximity of many of these sites. 

There are many fascinating points of archaeological interest scattered all around my home in The Great Smoky Mountains. Perhaps it is the many years of my life that I have spent in this area that has given me the desire to conduct my own personal research on subjects such as these. Keep reading to delve deeper into the mysteries of the lands from which I came. This is only a brief outline of some of my favorite sites. 

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Track Rock Gap Petroglyph Site

We'll begin along the bottom of the map, not far from the southern most access point of The Appalachian Trail. After a bit of backroad searching, Track Rock Gap Petroglyph Site can be found just outside of ​Blairsville, Georgia. This site seems to be very well maintained, and is located directly along Trackrock Gap Road. There is a small parking lot immediately to the south. It is very easy to pass if you are not careful. Don't trust google maps, as their marker is not exactly spot-on. 

Many of the markings resemble animal tracks, for which the site is named. It is unclear which native group was responsible for these engravings, but many estimate them to be well over 1,000 years old. The nearby Cherokee people have been aware of this site for ages, but only speculate that these markings were left by their ancestors in an attempt to document a successful hunt.

I found it especially interesting that one symbol bears a resemblance to the Cross of Odin. Before we jump to conclusions, I am not insinuating that Vikings explored this land as many alternative researchers may claim. This is a symbol that tends to occur across various cultures worldwide. I just think that independently similar forms of symbolism are an amazing aspect of written communication. 

Other Nearby Points of Interest:

• Nacoochee Indian Mound
• The Kenimer Site.

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Judaculla Rock

Crossing upward into the South-Central region of Appalachia, this amazing petroglyphic site can be found just outside of Sylva, North Carolina. The engravings are of Native American origins, but the mythology surrounding this artifact provides a much more interesting account for its creation. 

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​Local folklore suggests that this display of rock art was the product of the giant, Judaculla. This enormous being once lived on the nearby mountaintop that locals now call Devil's Courthouse. It was high above the surrounding forest that he could effectively watch over his hunting grounds of the Balsam Mountains. Because of his well known hunting skills, this slant-eyed giant was sometimes referred to as "master of game", and he was known to guard this area fiercely. 

Judaculla Rock

Judaculla would often toss stones such as this from the top of the mountain to ward off trespassers. It was during a fit of rage toward disrespectful hunters that the giant jumped from his summit home, and on impact planted his hand on the stone leaving his signature imprint.

​In reality, these markings were left behind by local natives who had been chipping away pieces of this once larger soap stone boulder to use in their own tool making over 3,000 years ago. The glyphs are suspected to have been created over time, with estimates on most spanning to around 1,500 years ago. 

The nearby area was once the site of an important Cherokee town. It seems that Judaculla Rock was most likely a boundary marker for the nearby hunting lands. As it turns out, this legend serves the purpose of protecting these grounds though encouraging the preservation of local animal populations that were substantial to the native's way of life. 

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The Red Bird Petroglyphs:
​"Stone of Witness"

​Located in the Kentucky town of Manchester, these markings are engraved upon a large stone that weighs in at around 50 tons. This rock was once a part of the nearby Red Bird River petroglyphs, but in 1994 it collapsed into the highway causing it to be relocated to the Rawlings Stinson Park where it now rests under a protective pagoda.
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The symbols seen here are attributed to the Cherokee Bear, Bird, and Deer clans which once hunted on these grounds. Other markings are said to have been left from the Chickamauga People who later branched off from their Cherokee ancestors. The site itself is named after Cherokee Chief Red Bird. 

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Check back occasionally.
I will update this section as I continue to explore more of the archaeology of my home region. 

Follow the link in this image for a more cultural exploration of Native American Life