COFITACHIQUI INDIANS IN SOUTH CAROLINA

THE COFITACHIQUI HAD MUSKOGEAN OR SIOUAN LANGUAGE. THEY ARE NOW EXTINCT. THEY ONCE LIVED IN CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA NEAR TALIMICO. IN 1670 THEIR POPULATION WAS 4000. DE SOTOS STATED THEY WERE THE MOST POWERFUL TRIBES IN SOUTHEAST U.S. IN 1540. IN 1685 THEY CAME TO A SUDDEN END. THEY LIKELY JOINED THE CATAWBA. OPINIONS DIFFER ON THEIR ETHNIC ORIGIN. THEIR HUTS WERE COVERED WITH WOVEN MATS. THEIR TEMPLE WAS ABOUT 250 FEET LONG AND 100' WIDE AND DECORATED INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WITH SHELLS. THEIR CHIEFS AND RELATIVES ONCE DECEASED WERE PLACED IN WOODEN VAULTS IN THE TEMPLE.

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