Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month in the U.S. To honor this national month of commemoration and acknowledgment of the contribution of Native Americans, we’re posting historical tidbits about the lowcountry Indians on our Facebook page throughout November.  Click the “like” button if you want to encourage us to continue sharing local history with you via Facebook. 

As of 2012, South Carolina is home to one Federally Recognized Tribe and over a dozen State Recognized Tribes and Tribal groups. South Carolina’s Native population grew significantly in the 2010 Census, and now numbers 40,000+, mostly due to folks of Native American descent moving into this area from other parts of the United States.

Beaufort County is the one spot in South Carolina where there is no local Native American tribal organization representing the descendants of Indians who were living here when the Europeans arrived during the 16^th century. 

If you prefer your information to be more thorough and substantive, check out these links in our Virtual BDC: 
Lowcountry South Carolina Indians
NativeAmericans  

Yamassee artifacts from Altamaha

Although the Topper Site  is just outside the traditional boundaries of Beaufort District (in nearby Allendale County), it is a very important archaeological dig that has already changed our understanding of the Native Americans who came to South Carolina during the Ice Age.

For the more visually minded, you can borrow They Were Here: Ice Age Humans in South Carolina and Carolina Stories: Finding Clovis DVDs from our Branch Libraries.