Cherokee funeral rites

Bodies were prepared for burial immediately after death.[2] A close relative of the deceased would close the eyelids and clean the body with either water or a wash made by boiling willow root, both of which were considered purifying substances.[1] In communities where bodies were not buried nude, the body was dressed in “dead clothes,” which were prepared in early adulthood and stored until burial.[2]

A Mississippian-style shell mask found at the Nodena site.

Bodies were predominantly buried in the ground, however less commonly the Cherokee would lay their dead in caves. Burial practices varied depending on location, time, and the status of the deceased individual. In early Cherokee culture, following the tradition of the Mississipian civilization that preceded the Cherokee, when a chief died individuals who were close to him were killed and buried with him, including his wives and some of his servants. The purpose of this practice was to sever all of the chief’s ties to the physical world on earth so that he may freely enter the spirit world. In patriarchal settings, some members of a man’s immediate family would be sacrificed and buried with him. As the distribution of power between men and women became more equal and Cherokee social and power structures shifted towards a matrilineal and more matriarchal system, these customs of sacrifice became obsolete. Priests and spiritual advisors were honoured at their burial by the sacrifice of their slaves, who were impaled and situated in a circle around the priests' graves. This ensured the slaves would continue to watch over and care for the priest in death.[2]

The Cherokee mostly used shallow graves that were not much larger than the body. Bodies were often laid in the fetal position, possibly due to the belief that one should rest in death in the earth as they once rested within their mother. Most Cherokee were buried with items of personal importance. Excavations of burial sites at Garden Creek Mound in North Carolina have found items including pottery, metal and bone ornaments, shells, and ceramics. Hairpins, beads, and pendants have also been found in graves.[2] In some regions, shell masks have been found in many graves, mainly in those of men. These masks do not appear to have been worn during life and were likely made specifically to be buried with the individual. Markings of falcon eyes and thunderbolts indicate these masks may be spiritually related to the Thunderbird figure, who was a powerful warrior and aided humans in warfare and hunting.[4] These masks, along with other grave goods, are usually placed near the individual’s head. Food and water was often also buried with the body so as to provide the spirit with nourishment and energy as they travel to the spirit world.[2]

Each community had a priest who was responsible for burying the dead. Soon after death, the priest would come to the home of the deceased, where most deaths occurred. In some communities, it was most common for individuals to be buried under the floor in their home where they had died, under the hearth in the home, or outside near the home. In other communities, it was more common for individuals to be buried outside. In these cases, a male relative would help the priest move the body to where it would be interred.[1] The Cherokee commonly believed that if an individual died before sunrise, they should be buried before sundown, and if they died before sundown, they should be buried before sunrise.[2]

Cherokee burial mound in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Bodies that were buried outside were covered with rocks and dirt, and then later covered by other dead bodies, which would also be covered with rocks, dirt, and other bodies. These piles of bodies would eventually form large burial mounds. New burial mounds were started when a priest died.[2] In some instances bodies were placed on an elevated, exposed surface and then covered with stones, creating stone heaps that were at least four to five feet high.[5]

When an individual died, their surviving family and everything in their home was considered unclean. Personal belongings that were not buried with the deceased were often burned at the grave site. Fire is sacred to the Cherokee and after a death, it is used to purify the uncleanliness that remains.[6] A priest would perform a ritual to cleanse the house and the hearth soon after death. He would then kindle a new fire and place his medicine pot filled with water on it. In the pot, he would boil a tea and give it to the family, who would purify themselves by drinking and washing themselves in it. The priest would also smoke inside the home and burn a fire with cedar boughs and purifying weeds. Lastly, he would take the unclean family members to a river or creek, where they would enter the water, turn between facing east and west, and immerse themselves seven times. After leaving the water, they would put on new clothes and return to their home clean.[1]