1. Native American Studies Center (USC Lancaster)
- This state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility features five galleries dedicated to Indigenous art and history, an extensive archive, oral histories, and the world’s largest collection of Catawba Indian pottery. Visitors can also participate in community archaeology labs and research opportunities.
2. Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center
- Located in St. Matthews, this museum houses a significant collection of Native American artifacts, offers guided tours, and hosts special programs. It provides a comprehensive look at Native American history in Calhoun County and the broader South Carolina region.
3. Green’s Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve
- Situated in Beaufort County, this archaeological site dates back to 1335 A.D. and features a low earthen embankment from a fortified Native American village. The preserve is managed as a passive park, focusing on its archaeological significance and the cultural practices of its ancient inhabitants.
4. Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve
- This 627-acre preserve near Cayce contains evidence of nearly 12,000 years of Native American habitation, including tools, pottery, and arrowheads. The site is also traversed by the historic Old Cherokee Trail, linking the mountains to the coast.
5. Pockoy Island Shell Rings at Botany Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve
- These ancient shell rings, created by Native communities thousands of years ago, are important archaeological sites that reveal the resourcefulness and social organization of South Carolina’s earliest inhabitants.
6. Edisto Beach State Park (Spanish Mount Shell Midden Site)
- The Spanish Mount Trail leads to a 3,000–4,000-year-old shell midden, possibly a ceremonial site or refuse heap, offering insights into the diet and rituals of Native Americans along the coast.
7. Oconee Station State Historic Site
- Located in the Blue Ridge foothills, this site explores the interactions between settlers and Native Americans on the frontier. The park hosts annual Native American Day events with demonstrations of traditional crafts like pottery and bow making.
8. Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site
- This is the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Carolinas, where Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans first interacted. The park interprets the early colonial period and the critical role Native Americans played in the state’s founding.
These sites collectively offer a deep and varied understanding of South Carolina’s Native American heritage, from ancient archaeological sites to modern museums and cultural centers. Each location provides unique opportunities to engage with the state’s Indigenous history, artifacts, and living traditions.
Sources:
- https://scdah.sc.gov/historic-preservation/resources/native-american-heritage
- https://calhouncounty.sc.gov/about-us/recreation-and-tourism/museum
- https://www.hiltonheadisland.com/native-american-indian-history-in-south-carolina/
- https://southcarolinaparks.com/education-and-history/people-of-south-carolina/native-american