This book was privately published in 2002 as a limited edition to satisfy a local interest in "Indians," a subject encouraged by recent archaeological excavations within Burke County. Although the following, slightly edited version is somewhat dated, it continues to provide the general reader a brief, convenient overview of prehistoric Native Americans who once lived in the Appalachian foothills of western North Carolina and Burke County. The bibliography also offers a variety of references for additional study on this topic. Hopefully, this brief encounter with our Native American heritage will encourage further reading.