Chota

Chota is an archaeological site in Monroe County along the Little Tennessee River with excavated remains of Cherokee structures. The site shows foundations of a central townhouse and multiple residential buildings that reveal the layout of the original settlement.

From 1740 to 1788, this settlement served as the capital of the Cherokee Nation and hosted crucial diplomatic meetings with British representatives. The site was the heart of Cherokee political life during this period.

The site honors the Cherokee people through eight memorial pillars representing the seven clans and the nation, along with the reinterred remains of Chief Oconostota. Visitors can see these monuments and sense the deep connection to Cherokee heritage preserved in this location.

The archaeological area is accessible from the mainland via a causeway, allowing visitors to explore the preserved sections that remain above Tellico Lake. Sturdy footwear is recommended, and the ground can become slippery during wet weather.

Before the Tellico Dam was built in 1979, archaeologists conducted extensive excavations and recovered thousands of artifacts from the site. This detailed documentation allowed them to reconstruct how the town was originally laid out and its significance to the Cherokee.