Joara, Archaeological settlement in Burke County, North Carolina.
The excavation site contains remains of a Native American settlement with a central earthwork platform mound near the Blue Ridge Mountains foothills.
Spanish explorer Juan Pardo established Fort San Juan at this location in 1567, making it the first European settlement in interior North America.
The settlement served as a regional center for Mississippian culture from 1000 CE, connecting numerous Native American communities in the area.
The Berry archaeological site offers public excavation programs and educational activities through the Exploring Joara Foundation research center.
Archaeologists discovered evidence of Fort San Juan in 2013, including a defensive moat that intersected a pre-existing Native American mound structure.
Location: North Carolina
GPS coordinates: 35.79590,-81.71700
Latest update: May 26, 2025 15:08
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