Did Spanish conquistadors first settle North Carolina? After discoveries in the 1980's along the Catawba River, where archaeologists found a Spanish fort, they just may have. The Berry Site is located near Morganton, North Carolina.
In 1540, Hernando de Sota traveled through the Native American town of Joara. Later, in the 1560's, Juan Pardo constructed a fort in the village. Now arcchaeologists and students from Warren Wilson College are working on excavating the site.