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Native American Studies Center

Established in August of 2012, this comprehensive center for the study of South Carolina’s Native American peoples, their histories, and their cultures offers visitors the opportunity to view the single largest collection of Catawba Indian pottery in existence; study primary and secondary texts on Native Americans in the Southeast; participate in educational classes and programs; and observe archaeology, language, and folklore and oral history labs.

News

Explore the Center

Archaeology Lab

Have you ever dreamed of handling real archaeological artifacts? Now you can at the weekly archaeology lab. 

Archives

We help make information about Native American history and culture accessible to the public. 

Galleries and Special Collections

See what's on display at our center. 

NAS Week

Every year we celebrate local Native American history with the public. Join us!

Leadership and Staff

Our members work hard on their mission. Meet them. 

 

Learn With Us

Since 2005, we've been developing curriculum and public programs that educate the public about Native American art and culture, with an emphasis on the Catawba and other Native communities in South Carolina. Students at USC Lancaster and visitors to our Center can learn about art, American Indian literature and culture, Native American archaeology, folklore, anthropology, and oral traditions. Plans are underway to offer additional Native American literature courses, a course in Native American language, and additional courses taught through Palmetto College.

 

Meet Our Supporters 

The USCL Native American Studies Center has received support from the City of Lancaster, USC Lancaster, the Educational Foundation of USC Lancaster, and Duke Energy. Programming has been supported by grants from the SC Arts Commission, the Humanities Council SC,  the National Endowment for the Arts, the Offices of the USC Provost and Vice President for Research, the SC Budget and Control Board, the Lancaster County Council of the Arts, the SC Department of Archives and History, and the Charlotte Area Educational Consortium.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of USC Lancaster Native American Studies is to promote the documentation, preservation, appreciation, and study of Native American cultures and heritages. This mission is aided by courses and curricula, research projects, archival resources, exhibits, publications, and other public and educational programs and  materials developed by USCL faculty and staff. The Center works to dispel any stereotypes or existing misconceptions regarding Native Americans, their cultures, life ways, and languages.