the mound - Homelands

Mounds are sacred spaces

Please do not walk on the Mound or disturb the ground or plants surrounding it.

Responsible stewardship of mounds involves respecting and upholding Tribal Nations’ connections to their homelands. Visitors to mounds can show respect by protecting mounds, acknowledging them as sacred spaces, and ensuring Federally Recognized Tribes have access.

Mounds Are All Around Us

The oldest human-made structure on the University of Tennessee campus is an Indigenous Mound. The Mound is one of hundreds of mounds located across Tennessee, many of which are thousands of years old.

The Mound at UT

The Mound was part of UTK’s 1869 Agricultural Campus acquisition through the 1862 Morrill Act. Due to repeated construction threats, Charles Faulkner and James Cobb successfully nominated the Mound to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, and with Hendrick van de Werken and Don Williams created a “Native Plant Park” neighboring the Mound.

In 2008, Sam Rogers began planning updates for the garden in consultation with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (represented by Russell Townsend, David Cozzo, and Chief Michell Hicks) and the Native American Student Association (represented by Kim Smith). In 2011 the Native American Interpretive Garden was rededicated with new signage, seating, and Cherokee language plant labels.

In 2022, UTK reached out to all 11 Native Nations with Ancestral land ties to Knox County, Tennessee, to begin a practice of collaborative traditional care for the Mound. With this exhibition, UT renews its commitment to co-stewarding the Mound and garden with Native Nations partners. Conversations continue to be held regarding current care and long-term goals for the stewardship of the Mound. One goal is the preservation of this sacred space, and to honor this, we are asking all visitors to treat the Mound and its surroundings with respect.

Understanding Mounds

Native Nations built mounds to stand the test of time. Understanding mounds, however, is more than understanding how old they are or their construction materials. Understanding mounds means recognizing them as sacred spaces that are the heart of a community. Mounds are important spaces for gatherings, cultural exchanges, and sharing Indigenous languages, religious ceremonies, food, and stories.

Ongoing Care

Conversations continue regarding current care and long-term goals for the stewardship of the Mound. One goal is the preservation of this sacred space, and to honor this, we are asking all visitors to treat the Mound and its surroundings with respect.