There are tens of thousands of Indigenous mounds located throughout the United States. For Native Americans, these earthen structures are revered as sacred places. Despite their importance to Native cultures, many of these sites have been damaged or destroyed in the past, and very few are actually owned by tribes today. But the fascinating story of one mound in Franklin, North Carolina is highlighting recent efforts to preserve these important sites and put them back in tribal hands.

Featuring:

• Angelina Jumper, cultural resources supervisor for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
• Lilly Knoepp, NC Local’s regional reporter for Western North Carolina
• Ben Steere, archaeologist and professor at Western Carolina University
• Johi Griffin, tribal historic sites keeper for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Links:

• NC Local: There are dozens of Indigenous mounds in North Carolina. Why do tribes only own a few?
• The Trailhead newsletter from Lilly Knoepp and NC Local

Cover image: Noquisiyi Mound in Franklin, North Carolina. Photo by Harrison Keely/Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

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