In the mid-18th century, more than a dozen Cherokee villages—known as the Overhill towns—were scattered along the lower 55 miles (89 km) of the Little Tennessee River, among them the villages of Chota and Tanasi.
 The village of Mialoquo, the lowermost of the Overhill towns, was located about 17 miles (27 km) upstream from Bussell Island.
 Harrington's excavations on Bussell Island uncovered numerous Cherokee graves—identified by the graves' "rectangular" shape and the presence of European trade goods such as glass beads—although no known major Cherokee villages were located on the island.
Henry Timberlake, who traveled up the Little Tennessee in 1761 on a peace mission, met a Cherokee head man named Slave Catcher near the mouth of the Little Tennessee, but makes no mention of the island.

Throughout most of the 19th century, Bussell Island was known as "Lenoir Island," after William Ballard Lenoir, who established a large plantation and cotton mill at what is now Lenoir City.
 In 1887, John W. Emmert conducted the first major excavations at Bussell Island for the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology.
 By the time Harrington excavated the island in 1919, the island had come into the possession of the Bussell family, who operated a ferry along the opposite river shore in Lenoir City.
In the mid-18th century, more than a dozen Cherokee villages—known as the Overhill towns—were scattered along the lower 55 miles (89 km) of the Little Tennessee River, among them the villages of Chota and Tanasi.  The village of Mialoquo, the lowermost of the Overhill towns, was located about 17 miles (27 km) upstream from Bussell Island.  Harrington's excavations on Bussell Island uncovered numerous Cherokee graves—identified by the graves' "rectangular" shape and the presence of European trade goods such as glass beads—although no known major Cherokee villages were located on the island. Henry Timberlake, who traveled up the Little Tennessee in 1761 on a peace mission, met a Cherokee head man named Slave Catcher near the mouth of the Little Tennessee, but makes no mention of the island.
Throughout most of the 19th century, Bussell Island was known as "Lenoir Island," after William Ballard Lenoir, who established a large plantation and cotton mill at what is now Lenoir City.  In 1887, John W. Emmert conducted the first major excavations at Bussell Island for the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology.  By the time Harrington excavated the island in 1919, the island had come into the possession of the Bussell family, who operated a ferry along the opposite river shore in Lenoir City.
Bussell Island