Cherokee Pot of Gold — Ryland / Bellfaun

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Cherokee Pot of Gold — Ryland / Bellfaun

Lost Treasure AL • Madison County County
Description
Madison County legend of a Cherokee pot of gold buried near Ryland and Bellfaun — a pre-removal hoard said to lie in the hills east of Huntsville.
Historical Notes
Before the Trail of Tears, Cherokee families lived in the Tennessee Valley around present-day Madison County. Local tradition describes a clay or iron pot of gold coins hidden near Ryland and the Bellfaun community. Digital Alabama lists the tale among north Alabama Indian treasure legends distinct from the Keel Mountain Civil War cache. Removal-era upheaval is often cited as the reason the pot was never recovered. Suburban growth between Huntsville and Ryland has not extinguished the story among longtime residents.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

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