Two Rivers Mounds: Two Cultures - One Goal

Calls to Action

Save the Two Rivers Mounds Petition

We need to collect literally thousands of signatures protesting the development and destruction of the mound site. We need to be able to carry in boxes of documents showing not only resistance to this desecration here in Tennessee, but all over the country from all walks of life for all of the values - respect, history, education, environmental - we have presented. We need to show that no amount of money can purchase the value of this property as it sits today - undisturbed, untouched, free from intentional violation.

Sign the "Save the Two Rivers Mounds Petition" today. Visit http://www.petitiononline.com/trmsuprt/ and show your support. Walk the talk.

To: City, County, State, Federal Officials, Site Owners, Prospective Buyer(s)

The Two Rivers Mounds site is one of only two remaining ancient burial and settlement sites in the county, and one of very few unexcavated sites in all of East Tennessee.

State and University of Tennessee archeologists confirm that Two Rivers Mounds was inhabited by American Indians as early as 1000 AD through as recently as 1800 AD, and that the site was visited by the Spanish in or around 1500 AD. The State Archeologist has confirmed that indigenous cultures including Woodland, Mississippian and the Cherokee inhabited the site. Archeological evidence at the site is apparent through the existence of two burial mounds and a temple mound. Minor archeological surveys have found evidence of as many as 1500 burials on the site, as well as an indication that the site was one end of an early American Indian settlement that stretched along the river for five miles.

The county historian confirms that the site is in close proximity to the gravesites of the first colonial inhabitants of the area, giving the site a shared history and heritage and making the site equally important to non-Native people.

Environmentalists have confirmed the presence of fragile wetlands that would be lost completely to development.

Amazingly, the Two Rivers Mounds site has escaped major archeological exploration and excavation, and for the most part has suffered only minor surface grave robbing or looting over the years. Unlike a smaller mound located in the same city that is now on the national historic landmark register, the remains of those people buried at Two Rivers Mounds were never removed, never studied, never put on display, never touched. As of this writing, they continue to rest where they were originally laid by their loved ones and friends. This very fact makes the site unique, and of great spiritual, historical and educational value.

If something isn't done and done quickly, the history and heritage of this amazing and incredibly unique site will be destroyed by the bulldozer's shovel. Gravesites will be desecrated. A community, a county, a state and a nation will lose an important part of its original history and heritage. Fragile wetlands will be destroyed, never to return. The ability for two cultures, the existence of one already endangered, and at least four communities to mutually benefit will be gone.

All too often, American Indian burial sites are written off as abandoned cemeteries and remains as well as the personal possessions of the deceased are classified as artifacts and treated like science projects or commodities to be bought, sold, and traded both legally and illegally throughout the world and especially here in the U.S.A. Those are not artifacts in this site and others - they were people who left behind descendents.

This site was not abandoned, nor were any others. They were taken from possession of the Indian people by fraud, deceit, trickery, encroachment, treaty violation, and other malfeasance. It is time to put an end to this. It is time to say that history, heritage, and the undisturbed rest of our grandfathers and grandmothers is more important than money, concrete, and condominiums.

We, the undersigned, support the campaign to prevent any destruction and/or development of the Two Rivers Mounds site in East Tennessee, and to work together to ensure that this site is protected from any future threat of desecration. We ask for your immediate intervention and support in this matter. We are two cultures with one goal.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Sign the Petition

Letter Writing Campaign

Write a letter to key city and county officials urging them to assist in seeing this site protected and left undisturbed. A sample letter and addresses are provided below:

Sample Letter

Honorable ___________________________,

I am writing to urge you to take action to protect and preserve the Two Rivers Mounds site from current and future development. The historical, educational, environmental and economic value of the site as it is are priceless and will outlive any commercial development that could possibly be planned. Your support in this matter would also serve as show of good will toward the living descendents of those buried on the site who all too often are forced to settle with the covering over, removal, or other disturbance of their ancestors' final resting place.

Please consider supporting and implementing a moratorium on any development of the Two Rivers Mounds site until all efforts to see it preserved and protected are exhausted.

With greatest respect,

 

Letters should be sent to each of the following at

Please "raise a noise" to preserve this site and ask your friends to raise a noise, too!

Attend a meeting and make your voice heard!

Board of Mayor & Aldermen
1st & 3rd Mondays of each month @ 7pm

Planning Commission
1st Thursday of each month @ 5pm

Board of Zoning Appeals
1st Thursday of each month, following the Planning Commission Meeting

Join a Protest!

Redhawk Mason, principle supporter and organizer of our efforts to stop development of the Two Rivers Mounds site, has been conducting frequent protests in the Sevierville area. If you would like to join Redhawk in the protest line, please send your contact information to tworivers at tnaim.org or call 865-448-1083. For a list of scheduled protests, please visit our "Get Involved" page!

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