The myth of an unbroken primeval forest, extending across eastern North America at the dawn of European settlement, has been perpetuated in the writings of both laymen and scholars throughout the present century. Accounts of sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth century explorers, however, document vast amounts of cleared land held by aboriginal inhabitants, who likely populated the continent in much higher numbers than hate been traditionally accepted. Fire was the principal tool used by the Indians to clear vegetation. Despite frequent historical reference to the Indian use of fire and the documentation of Indian old fields, the role of fire has been largely underplayed. Fire was implemented for forest management, driving game, and preparing land for agriculture. This paper examines the impact of fire and related anthropogenic disturbances on the southern Appalachian landscape before white settlement.