Pottery fragments are a common Native American artifact found in North Carolina.
Long before European settlers arrived on the eastern coast of North America, Native American tribes populated the area now called North Carolina. Researchers think the Iroquois, Cherokee, Coree, Siouan and Algonquian tribes lived in North Carolina more than 11,000 years ago. Spear points and pottery are among the most common Indian artifacts discovered in North Carolina. A historic find at the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus gave researchers unparalleled insight into Native American life thousands of years ago.
Spear Points
In 2005, researchers found spear points and pottery fragments on the campus of the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. They dated the artifacts at 2,000 years old, and the find made archeologists reconsider when Native American settlements began to form in North Carolina. The spear tips led researchers to believe that Native American tribes hunted in North Carolina from 500 B.C. to A.D. 500. Researchers said the spear points were part of an instrument called an atlatl, which Native Americans used to hunt before the bow and arrow was developed.
Pottery Shards
In addition to spear tips, archeologists found pieces of pottery at UNC's campus. UNC Chapel Hill was established in 1795, and the part of campus where the artifacts were found had never been farmland. Researchers say that's what preserved the pottery shards, which are easily destroyed by weather and plowing.
Town Creek Indian Mound
In 1937, researchers uncovered the remains of an entire Native American town in North Carolina that has become known as Town Creek Indian Mound. Excavations continued at the site until 1987. Town Creek became a state historic site in 1955, and today limited excavation continues. Archeologists discovered the remains of an earth lodge where public meetings and ritual ceremonies occurred. Researchers also found the remains of a burial house and two temple structures. Today, visitors can take a tour of the site, which includes a visitors' center, group activities and a glimpse into pre-Columbian Native American life in the North Carolina Piedmont area.
