Chunkey

Q: What is chunkey?

Chunkey is a Native American game of sport played with a stone (or ring) and sticks (like javelins). The stone is rolled on a field, and players score points by landing their sticks as close to the stone, once it stops, as possible.

Q: What is the origin of chunkey?

Chunkey is thought to have originated at Cahokia c. 600 CE based upon chunkey stones found at the site. The game may be much older, however.

Q: Why is chunkey called chunkey?

The name of the game chunkey (tchung-kee) may mean "uncountable" referring to the uncertainty of how far the rolling discoidal stone would go or when it would stop.

Q: Is chunkey still played by Native Americans today?

Chunkey is played by many different Native American nations today including the Cherokee, Pawnee, Chickasaw, and Sioux.

Joshua J. Mark

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Definition

Chunkey (tchung-kee) is a Native American game involving a rolling disc (or ring) and two teams of players who score by throwing their sticks to land as close to the disc as possible. The game is thought to have originated at Cahokia c. 600 CE, was popular among many Native nations, and is still played today.

More about: Chunkey

Timeline

c. 600
Chunkey is thought to have originated at Cahokia.
1804
Chunkey game is described by Sergeant John Ordway of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
1832 - 1833
Chunkey is depicted in painting by artist George Catlin.
1841
Chunkey is described in letters of George Catlin.
1901
Chunkey is described by anthropologist George Bird Grinnell.