Chatata
Encyclopedia
Chatata is the original Cherokee
Indian name of a populated area located in Bradley County, Tennessee. This area is close to an idyllic natural spring known as "Blue Hole Spring", which was considered sacred to the Cherokee located at Red Clay State Historical Park. Now a state park, Red Clay
was the final Council Grounds in the east for the Cherokee Nation before the forced removal of the Cherokees along the Trail of Tears
.
The small community that now exists in this area is known as Tasso, a name that during the 19th and 20th centuries gradually replaced the original Native American name of Chatata for this region. Today the Chatata name survives in references to Chatata Creek, which flows through Bradley County into the Hiwassee River
, as well as the moniker applied to a local golf course and country club.
Chatata is an area of significant archaeological
, geological
, and paleontological
interest because of the so-called Chatata Wall excavated there over a century ago. In 1891, Isaac Hooper noticed a line of sandstone rocks protruding from the surface of his farm every 10 meters or so over a gently curving arc about 300 meters long. Unusual symbols seemed to be inscribed on one of these surface stones.
Visiting New York
professor Albert Leighton Rawson took an interest in this outcropping of rocks. Rawson (1829–1902) was a historian, writer and spiritualist who was the author of many late 19th century religious tracts and books including Evolution of Israel's God. He had participated in and organized outdoor religious meetings set among areas of striking natural and geological beauty in New York, most notably the 1878 Watkins Glen
Freethinkers Convention. Intrigued by the Chatata site, he funded excavations there.
A meter-high three-ply sandstone wall was unearthed with markings located on one surface of the middle layer. Rawson believed these markings to be Hebrew and claimed to translate several chapters of the Old Testament
from them, evidence to him that one or more of the Ten Lost Tribes
of Israel had arrived in Tennessee
before Europeans or even the Cherokee. Subsequent visits to the site by other scientists, and samples from the Wall displayed for a time at the Smithsonian Institution
, failed to generate support for Rawson's claims. The Chatata Wall faded from the public limelight, and today its exact location is effectively unknown.
Originally believed by A. L. Rawson upon its discovery to be an artificial structure, the Chatata Wall was ultimately judged to be a natural phenomenon. Whether its strange markings were of human, geological or paleontological origin is still a matter of debate.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
Indian name of a populated area located in Bradley County, Tennessee. This area is close to an idyllic natural spring known as "Blue Hole Spring", which was considered sacred to the Cherokee located at Red Clay State Historical Park. Now a state park, Red Clay
Red Clay State Park
Red Clay State Historic Park is located in southern Bradley County in Cleveland, Tennessee. The park is also listed as an interpretive center along the Cherokee Trail of Tears...
was the final Council Grounds in the east for the Cherokee Nation before the forced removal of the Cherokees along the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830...
.
The small community that now exists in this area is known as Tasso, a name that during the 19th and 20th centuries gradually replaced the original Native American name of Chatata for this region. Today the Chatata name survives in references to Chatata Creek, which flows through Bradley County into the Hiwassee River
Hiwassee River
The Hiwassee River has its headwaters on the north slope of Rocky Mountain in Towns County in northern Georgia and flows northward into North Carolina before turning westward into Tennessee, flowing into the Tennessee River a few miles west of State Route 58 in Meigs County, Tennessee...
, as well as the moniker applied to a local golf course and country club.
Chatata is an area of significant archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, and paleontological
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
interest because of the so-called Chatata Wall excavated there over a century ago. In 1891, Isaac Hooper noticed a line of sandstone rocks protruding from the surface of his farm every 10 meters or so over a gently curving arc about 300 meters long. Unusual symbols seemed to be inscribed on one of these surface stones.
Visiting New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
professor Albert Leighton Rawson took an interest in this outcropping of rocks. Rawson (1829–1902) was a historian, writer and spiritualist who was the author of many late 19th century religious tracts and books including Evolution of Israel's God. He had participated in and organized outdoor religious meetings set among areas of striking natural and geological beauty in New York, most notably the 1878 Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
Freethinkers Convention. Intrigued by the Chatata site, he funded excavations there.
A meter-high three-ply sandstone wall was unearthed with markings located on one surface of the middle layer. Rawson believed these markings to be Hebrew and claimed to translate several chapters of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
from them, evidence to him that one or more of the Ten Lost Tribes
Ten Lost Tribes
The Ten Lost Tribes of Israel refers to those tribes of ancient Israel that formed the Kingdom of Israel and which disappeared from Biblical and all other historical accounts after the kingdom was destroyed in about 720 BC by ancient Assyria...
of Israel had arrived in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
before Europeans or even the Cherokee. Subsequent visits to the site by other scientists, and samples from the Wall displayed for a time at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, failed to generate support for Rawson's claims. The Chatata Wall faded from the public limelight, and today its exact location is effectively unknown.
Originally believed by A. L. Rawson upon its discovery to be an artificial structure, the Chatata Wall was ultimately judged to be a natural phenomenon. Whether its strange markings were of human, geological or paleontological origin is still a matter of debate.