the little tennessee river traverses northern monroe county for roughly between its calderwood lake impoundment near the tennessee-north carolina border and its mouth along the tennessee river near lenoir city. the impoundment of the river in 1979 by tellico dam created tellico lake, which covers the river's lower as well as the lower of its tributary, the tellico river. the tomotley site was situated along the south bank of the little tennessee just north of the river's confluence with toqua creek, nearly above the river's mouth along the tennessee. the overhill cherokee village of toqua and its associated prehistoric site was located on the south side of toqua creek, opposite tomotley.