Historic archaeology update Excavated Village Unlocks Mystery of Tribe's Economy

A recent excavation by archaeologists has cast new light on how the Catawba Indians lived two centuries ago in a village near the North Carolina- South Carolina border.

The discovery of pottery fragments and other artifacts indicates that the Catawbas had found a niche in the early American economy.

"The perception of the Catawbas has been that they were in a perpetual state of decline," said University of North Carolina archaeologist Brett Riggs, who worked on the project.

"The archaeological record counters that view. They were a very vibrant society. They had a declining population, but they were meeting that challenge in very creative ways."