Enigmatic Moon-Eyed People of Appalachia—North Carolina Mystery Continues to Fascinate!
Who were the mysterious moon-eyed people said to have roamed the Appalachian Mountains before the Cherokee? 🌐 #News #AshvilleNC #NorthCarolina #WeirdNews
ASHEVILLE, NC — In the rugged landscapes of the southern Appalachian Mountains, whispers of a lost race known as the moon-eyed people have intrigued historians, archaeologists, and folklore enthusiasts in North Carolina for centuries. According to Cherokee oral tradition, these short, bearded, white-skinned individuals inhabited the region long before the Cherokee arrived, only to be driven out or vanish into obscurity.
Described as struggling to see in daylight, their name, “moon-eyed,” evokes an air of mystery, hinting at a people adapted to the shadows of night or perhaps marked by a striking physical trait. Early European settlers in America, eager to unravel the secrets of the land’s ancient past, documented these stories, preserving a legend that continues to spark debate.
Early Accounts and Historical Mentions
The earliest written reference to the moon-eyed people appears in Benjamin Smith Barton’s 1797 book, New Views of the Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America. Barton, citing Colonel Leonard Marbury, a Revolutionary War officer and intermediary with the Cherokee, recounts that the Cherokee found the region occupied by these peculiar people who “could not see in the day-time” and subsequently expelled them. Marbury’s account, rooted in his conversations with the Cherokee, suggests a tangible historical presence, though details remain elusive.
Another early source is John Sevier, a Tennessee governor who, according to a 1969 article in the Forsyth County News, visited Fort Mountain in 1782. Sevier claimed that Chief Ocotosota, a Cherokee elder, spoke of a fort built by “white men from across the great water.” This tantalizing detail has fueled speculation that the moon-eyed people might have been early European explorers or even a prehistoric transatlantic group.
Later accounts, such as James Mooney’s 1902 Myths of the Cherokee, build on these stories, quoting historian John Haywood’s 1823 work, which describes “white people” encountered by the Cherokee, some of whom were “extirpated” or driven from the region.
The Fort Mountain Connection
One of the most enduring associations with the moon-eyed people is Fort Mountain in Georgia, where a mysterious stone wall stretches along the ridge. A historical marker at Fort Mountain State Park, erected in 1968, notes the legend, suggesting that the moon-eyed people may have constructed these fortifications.
The marker adds a dramatic twist, claiming that the Creek people annihilated the moon-eyed during a phase when their vision was impaired, though this detail appears less frequently in earlier sources.
The wall’s origin remains a puzzle, with some attributing it to indigenous builders, others to the moon-eyed, and still others to natural formations. Park guides and news articles from the 20th century kept the legend alive, weaving it into the broader tapestry of Appalachian mystery.
Theories and Interpretations
The moon-eyed people have inspired a range of interpretations, from plausible historical theories to fantastical folklore. Some scholars, like Barton, speculated that they were an albino race, drawing parallels with the Kuna people of Panama, whom Welsh explorer Lionel Wafer described as “mooneyed” for their nocturnal vision.
Others, citing Sevier’s account, propose a European origin, with later stories linking the moon-eyed to a Welsh prince named Madoc, said to have arrived in America centuries before Columbus. A 2008 article in the Athens Banner-Herald even notes a plaque at Fort Mountain claiming Madoc built the wall, though this connection is widely debated.
Alternatively, some argue the moon-eyed were indigenous, possibly linked to the Adena culture of Ohio, as suggested by Barbara Alice Mann in her work on Cherokee traditions. Mann posits that these people merged with the Cherokee around 200 BCE, leaving behind traces in oral history.
Conversely, skeptics like Stacy McCain, writing in the Rome News-Tribune in 2008, argue that the moon-eyed legend may have been embellished by early American writers, with details like their white skin or violent expulsion emerging in later retellings rather than original Cherokee accounts.
A Blend of Fact and Folklore
The moon-eyed people occupy a liminal space between history and myth, their story shaped by the interplay of Cherokee tradition and European curiosity. Were they a real prehistoric group, perhaps with a genetic condition affecting their vision? Or are they a symbolic archetype, reflecting the Cherokee’s encounter with outsiders or their explanation for ancient ruins?
The lack of archaeological evidence leaves room for speculation, but the legend’s persistence speaks to its cultural power.
Why the Moon-Eyed People Still Fascinate
Today, the moon-eyed people remain a captivating enigma, inviting us to explore the blurred lines between history, legend, and imagination. Their story, etched into the stones of Fort Mountain and the pages of early American texts, challenges us to consider the untold histories of the Appalachian landscape.
Whether they were indigenous builders, European wanderers, or purely mythical, the moon-eyed people remind us that the past is full of shadows waiting to be illuminated. What do you think of the Moon-Eyed People? Have any theories? Tell us in the comments!
Images in this article were created for illustrative purposes only by Kai Kim and are © Jack and Kitty Media Group.
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