We know that Makah girls played with toy cradles in 1492.
We also know the exact size of Iroquois longhouses that no longer exist. How do we know these things? Scientists called archaeologists (ar-kee-ALL-uh-gists) find answers to such questions. Archaeologists study ancient cultures. They look at artifacts (handmade objects) such as tools, weapons, and pottery.
Scientists who study Native American life in 1492 can work with more than artifacts. They can get answers from real people. Members of all the Indian groups we’ve looked at are alive today. Hopi still live in the pueblos of Arizona. Some Iroquois live in New York State and parts of Canada. The Mandans live on a reservation and in nearby towns in North Dakota. Creeks live in Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. The Makah still live in Washington State and fish in the Pacific Ocean.
When the first Europeans came to America, Native Americans explained their beliefs and customs. Today, they’re helping archaeologists learn the ways of their people long ago.