Final answer:
The gradient artifact was mistakenly attributed first to Cherokee writing, then to ancient Hebrew, but it is related to the Cherokee syllabary created by Sequoyah. The Cherokee syllabary enabled the Cherokee to communicate and preserve their culture in written form, including in their bilingual newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gradient artifact from Tennessee initially thought to contain Cherokee writing, then later misinterpreted as ancient Hebrew, actually relates to the work of Sequoyah, a Cherokee leader. Sequoyah, who had not learned to read or write English or any other pre-existing written language, took it upon himself to create a written form of the Cherokee language. His creation, the Cherokee syllabary, was a revolutionary system of writing that translated the spoken Cherokee language into a set of written symbols, effectively allowing the Cherokee people to document their language and cultural practices.
Sequoyah’s system quickly became instrumental for the Cherokee community, being used in the publication of their newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, which began in 1828. The paper was published in both English and Cherokee, combining Sequoyah's syllabary and the English alphabet. His work demonstrated the ability of the Cherokee to adopt certain practices from white settlers while preserving their own cultural identity. This was noteworthy during a time when the Cherokee, like many other Native American tribes, were facing immense pressure and encroachment by settlers, especially after the discovery of gold on their lands. The initial belief that the artifact had Cherokee writing and the later claim that it was ancient Hebrew show an underestimation of the Cherokee's own cultural innovations and advancements.