McMahan Mound in Sevierville
McMahan Indian Mound - Sevierville, Tennessee
McMahan Indian Mound – Sevierville, Tennessee
The McMahan Mound sits just above the Little Pigeon River, nestled between a Shoney’s and a hotel. At first glance, it might seem like nothing more than a simple mound of manmade landscaping, placed to obscure the hotel guests’ view of the road. But according to the archaeological record, this mound is officially designated as site 40SV1 and measures 240 feet wide and 16 feet high. When I visited, however, it didn’t appear any taller than me at 6'2".
Upon arrival you will notice a historical marker that reads: This Mississippian substructure, sixteen feet high and 240 feet in circumference, built during the Dallas phase between 1200 and 1500, was first excavated in 1881 with artifacts being sent to the Smithsonian. Later excavations exposed nearby villages of the Woodland Indian dating from 200 A.D. to the Cherokee who roamed this valley when pioneers settled in the late 1700s.
Originally excavated in 1881 by Edward Palmer, with later analysis conducted by William H. Holmes, the site revealed a wealth of fascinating artifacts. These included marble pipes, arrow points, Mississippian pottery, columnella pendants, engraved shell gorgets, and multiple human burials. Some of the recovered items, such as cylindrical glass beads and brass pins, point to early contact with Europeans. The village area surrounding the mound was once enclosed by a wooden palisade, indicating it may have been a fortified settlement.
Among the most intriguing discoveries were several engraved shell gorgets. One particularly striking fragment shows two winged birdmen locked in combat with talons gripping each other's necks while one wields a dagger with his foot. This style is associated with the Hightower tradition. Other gorgets found reflect influences from the Lick Creek, Citico, Chickamauga, and Williams Island artistic styles, suggesting that groups from various surrounding cultures may have visited or traded in the area. These abstract and animal-based designs remain mysterious in meaning but speak to a sophisticated and diverse artistic tradition.
Images of some of the artifacts can be viewed at the Smithsonian at https://www.si.edu/object/nmnhanthropology_8308216 and additional research on the rattlesnake gorgets can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0734578X.2017.1400788.
On December 28, 1987, the property was officially conveyed to the City of Sevierville by the Temple family. The site remains preserved today with clear signage noting its importance and a request that it not be disturbed due to its archaeological significance.
Location: 35 degrees 51.837 minutes North, 83 degrees 34.048 minutes West. Marker is in Sevierville, Tennessee, in Sevier County. It is on Chapman Highway, also known as the Great Smoky Mountains Highway, Route 441.
Information on this mound is scarce. I have a note sent into The Smithsonian to see what other info might be available and will update this with whatever I get back.
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