🏺 Part 1: Archaeologists and Artifacts

1. What do archaeologists study to learn about ancient cultures?

Only written records

Artifacts and objects left behind

Modern buildings

Current maps

2. At Cactus Hill in Virginia, archaeologists found stone tools and shells. What do these artifacts tell us about the people who lived there? (Check all that apply)

They made tools from stone

They lived near water or traded for shells

They knew how to hunt and prepare food

They only ate plants

3. If you found a broken clay pot at an archaeological site, what might this artifact tell you about the ancient people?

4. Complete this sentence: "This artifact shows that ancient people might have used this to ________________."

Fill in the blank for a stone arrowhead: ________________

🗺️ Part 2: Geography and Indigenous Peoples

5. Match each geographic region with how it influenced Indigenous peoples' lives. Draw lines to connect them.

Coastal Plains

Mountains

Desert

Forests

Built shelters from available wood and bark

Fished and gathered shellfish for food

Adapted to limited water and extreme temperatures

Used elevation for protection and hunting

6. How did geography influence the daily lives of Indigenous peoples before Europeans arrived?

Geography had no effect on their lives

It determined their food sources, shelter materials, and clothing

All Indigenous groups lived exactly the same way

They only lived in one type of environment

7. Give an example of how the environment where Indigenous peoples lived affected ONE of the following: food, shelter, or clothing.

🧠 Part 3: Reflection and Critical Thinking

8. Complete this reflection: "I learned that artifacts help us understand ________________, and the place where people live affects ________________."

9. Extension Challenge: Imagine you are an archaeologist 1,000 years in the future studying our modern culture. What three artifacts from today would best help you understand how we live? Explain your choices.

10. Why is it important to study ancient cultures and Indigenous peoples when learning about American history?