Originally published in response to a local interest in "Indians," a topic encouraged by ongoing archaeological excavations in Burke County, this small booklet was written as a brief overview of how and when Native Americans came to live in western North Carolina. This includes a little geology and geography, a bit of prehistoric terminology, a few dates spanning thousands of years with a smattering about archaeology. An intended purpose of this discussion is to encourage further research into the prehistory of Native Americans (wherever they may be) and the preservation of a heritage that had (and continues to have) an important impact on the history of these United States.