South Carolina

   A little background on the prehistorical area of South Carolina, to set the scene:
   During the Early Holocene (11,500 Before Present-10,000 B.P.), the climate of South Carolina was cooler and moister than today. The Southeast (around SC) can be divided into three areas: Boreal, Temperate, and Subtropics.
   The Boreal area begins around the center of South Carolina, in Columbia and extends north towards the Mid-Atlantic States. The fauna (animals) found there include: walrus, wooly mammoth (mammuthus primigenius), caribou (rangifer tarandus), horse (equus) and bison. The vegetation and landscape was most probably tundra.
   The Temperate area was located from central SC down to Charleston, SC. Fauna included: mammoth and wooly mammoth (mammuthus columbi, primigenius), horse, bison, camelids (camelops, hemiaucheria), great amphibious rodents (capybaras), american mastodon (mammut americanum) and deer (odocoileus cf. virginianus). The area was a mix of temperate forests and grasslands.
   The Subtropic area covered a large area from Charleston down to Florida, and contiunued along northwestern Florida to the coastal lands along the Gulf of Mexico. The fauna is this area included giant tortoise (geochelone, rassiscutta),horse, camel, bison, glyptodonts, ground sloth, mastodon, tapir, peccaries, giant beavers, giant capybaras, muskrat, fish, turtle and alligators. This area was a warm, moist and equable climate.

South Carolina, one of the original colonies of the Unites States, is located in an area known as the "Deep South". It has a reputation for being very Southern, one of the poorest states in the US, and an education level that is the lowest in the country. Even so, South Carolina has a history that spans many hundred years, a prehistory that spans many thousands, families whose history lives on for generations in the state, and a large amount of attractions for those all over the world. Some of the most important events in our history have occurred here and there are wonderful opportunities to be had, like strolling Edisto Beach, the only island on the Eastern coast of the US that contains a vast array of fossils, from mammoths and bison to elephants and camels. The weather is almost always warm, the mountains are beautiful, the beach is hot, and the country is open. Come see South Carolina and find your special place.

	Allendale Located in the rural town of Martin, near Allendale, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the present time. Besides being a find in itself, the chert quarry here may prove that people populated the Americas as early as 15000 years ago (as opposed to 12000). Dr. Al Goodyear from SC Institute of Anth & Arch leads an expedition every year open to the public. Check it out!
	Charleston Southeast coastal city. One of the oldest eastern seaports.
	Columbia South Carolina's capitol
	Myrtle Beach The beach that vacationers populate during the summer months (and maybe even winter).
	Rock Hill Located twenty minutes from Charlotte, NC, this town is historically known for its civil rights struggles and education. There are several schools here, and one, Winthrop University, is one of the oldest women's universities in the US.
	Sumter The town named for General Thomas Sumter. It is located 40 minutes east of Columbia and about 2 hours from the coast. The Swan Lake Gardens and Shaw Air Force Base are also here.