North Carolina Office of State Archaeology and members of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe have uncovered a 1,000-year-old canoe in Lake Waccamaw. This is a significant discovery that sheds light on the tribe’s history before European colonization.
Discovery by local teens
The discovery was made by three teenagers, Eli Hill, Jackson Holcomb, and Creek Hyatt, were swimming in Lake Waccamaw. They initially thought it was a log, but upon further digging, they realized it was a fully-intact, 8.7-meter-long canoe made from pine. They stored it under a family pier and contacted the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology. After consultation with the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission, a plan was made to remove and preserve the artifact.
A testament to the tribe’s thriving society
The canoe, made by hollowing out a tree log, is a testament to the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe’s thriving society, which was engaged in trade and had complex governmental systems. The tribe’s chief, Michael Jacobs, expressed his excitement and gratitude for the discovery.
The tribe’s chief, Michael Jacobs, was overwhelmed with emotion when he saw a canoe that his ancestors had skillfully made a thousand years ago, and he says that “couldn’t do nothing but cry.”
“For the Creator to allow us an opportunity to actually handle and touch our history is just a blessing. I mean, it’s overwhelming,” said Chief Jacobs
“Through our history, you know, we’ve been told that we’re the People of the Falling Star. We believe the Creator actually sent a star down and it fell and formed Lake Waccama, and prepared it just for us,” he said.
The canoe is still well-preserved, and the burn marks in the wood show that it was made using a controlled fire.
The tribe’s elders were present during the removal of the canoe and were moved to tears. They see this discovery as an opportunity to shed light on their history and correct the one-sided historical accounts that have painted them as “savages.” The canoe will be chemically treated to preserve the wood and will be on display at the Queen Anne’s Revenge Conservation Laboratory.
Overall, this discovery is a significant piece of history for the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe and sheds light on their thriving society before European colonization.
