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Part 1
Reminders of North Carolina’s earliest inhabitants appear in the form of Indian arrowheads that were once plentiful in central North Carolina. These Carolina gems have been found in almost every area of North Carolina, especially in the central Piedmont region. There are numerous collectors throughout that area who have hunted, traded, bought and otherwise accumulated collections of various sizes over the past decades.
The earliest inhabitants of what is now North Carolina were the Paleo Indians of the Clovis Culture, who made beautifully flaked stone Clovis points. Fluted channels on the points aided in “hafting” or attaching them to a spear shaft. Clovis points date back 10,000 to 12,000 years ago and are infrequently found at various locations throughout North Carolina as well as other areas the United States. Clovis points are highly prized by collectors and are displayed with pride, considering their rarity.
Later cultures, like the Hardaway people, inhabited
various areas of the Piedmont region in slightly greater numbers than
did the
Clovis.
The Hardaway technology in the making of
flint-tipped spears or “atlatl” darts changed to what is
called the Hardaway-Dalton, and Hardaway side-notched style points.
The Hardaway culture existed in what archaeologists term the early
archaic
period or about 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. Later prehistoric cultures
or traditions to evolve in North Carolina included Palmer, Kirk, Rowan,
Stanly, Morrow Mountain, Guilford, Halifax and Savannah River. These
cultures existed through the early, mid and late archaic
periods with a time span of 3,000 to 10,000 years ago. Spear points
and flint knives from these traditions are found on knolls or ridges
near
streams and natural springs where these cultures camped while in search
of fruit, nuts and wild game for food. These earliest inhabitants of
North Carolina were considered “hunters and gatherers.”
The bow and arrow wasn’t introduced into use in North Carolina until sometime in the millennium after the birth of Christ. This was the Woodland period that dates from 3,000 years ago until around AD 1400. Projectile points during this period were small and triangular-shaped. These flint points were actually the first “true” arrowheads. They are found on Woodland period sites close to major rivers, streams and water sources. By this time, the Woodland people were more settled in their way of life and engaged in the planting, growing and harvesting of crops in the rich fertile river bottoms along major Piedmont waterways and their tributaries. Arrowheads from this period are called Yadkin, Eared Yadkin, Pee Dee, and Uwharrie. These are all named after major rivers in the area near where they are found.
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