Description
The Occaneechi are Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands whose historical territory was in the Piedmont region of present-day North Carolina and Virginia. In the 17th century they primarily lived on the large, 4-mile long Occoneechee Island and east of the confluence of the Dan and Roanoke rivers, near current-day Clarksville, Virginia. The meaning and origin of the name Occaneechi is unknown. They have also historically been called the Achonechy, Aconechos, Akenatzy, Hockinechy, Occaneches, Occaanechy, Occhonechee, Occonacheans, Occoneechee, Ockanechees, Ockanigee, Okenechee, Acconeechy, Occaneeches, Ochineeches, and Ockinagee.
Language
They spoke one of the Siouan languages
Culture
Archeological studies have found finely chipped projectile points, which provide evidence of thousands of years of habitation, on the former Occoneechee Island, as well as nearby Field's Island, Lewis Island, and Tottero (or Nelson's) Island in the Roanoke River. Numerous artifacts were found during the excavation which included clay pottery, stone tools, and European objects from trade such as beads and axes. Additionally items such as animal bones and pant remains suggested a diet of corn, beans squash and deer. The tribe had five seasons which included budding, ripening, mid-summer harvest and winter. Two chiefs presided over the tribe, one in charge of warfare and the other agriculture and hunting.