Req 4a — Researching Archaeological Sites
For this requirement, you need to research a combined total of five archaeological sites — some inside the United States and some outside. Below, you will find a selection of well-known sites to help you get started. You do not have to use these exact sites — they are examples to show you the kind of information you should look for. Pick sites that genuinely interest you.
What to Research for Each Site
For every site you choose, you should be able to answer these questions:
Site Research Guide
Cover these points for each of your five sites
- Where is it? Find it on a map and note its country, region, and geographic setting.
- How was it discovered? Was it found by accident, through survey, or through historical records?
- What time period does it represent? How old is the site compared to your other choices?
- What have archaeologists found there? Describe key artifacts, structures, or features.
- What questions does it help answer? What have we learned about past people from this site?
- Why does it matter today? How does this knowledge affect modern communities, laws, or understanding?
Example Sites in the United States
Mesa Verde, Colorado — This cliff dwelling complex in southwestern Colorado was home to Ancestral Puebloan people from about 600 CE to 1300 CE. Cowboys and ranchers noticed the structures in the cliffs in the 1880s, and systematic archaeological study began soon after. The site preserves hundreds of stone dwellings built into natural rock alcoves, along with pottery, tools, and evidence of farming. Mesa Verde helps answer questions about how communities adapted to a challenging environment and why they eventually moved away — possibly due to prolonged drought.
Cahokia Mounds, Illinois — Located near present-day St. Louis, Cahokia was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. At its peak around 1100 CE, it may have had a population of 20,000 people. The site features massive earthen mounds (including Monks Mound, which is 100 feet tall), a wooden solar calendar called “Woodhenge,” and evidence of long-distance trade networks. Cahokia challenges the common assumption that pre-contact North America was sparsely populated and shows that complex urban societies thrived here.
Jamestown, Virginia — The first permanent English settlement in North America (1607). Archaeologists rediscovered the original fort site in 1994 after it had been considered lost for centuries. Excavations have uncovered over two million artifacts, revealing the harsh realities of early colonial life — including evidence of starvation, conflict, and adaptation.
Example Sites Outside the United States
Pompeii, Italy — In 79 CE, the eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried this Roman city under meters of volcanic ash, preserving it almost perfectly. Rediscovered in 1748, Pompeii provides an extraordinary snapshot of daily life in the ancient Roman world — complete with houses, shops, bakeries, baths, and even graffiti on the walls.
Great Zimbabwe, Southern Africa — A massive stone-walled complex built between the 11th and 15th centuries CE. European explorers in the 1800s refused to believe it was built by African people, but archaeological evidence clearly shows it was the capital of a thriving Shona civilization. Great Zimbabwe is an important example of how archaeology can correct historical prejudices.
Lascaux Cave, France — Discovered in 1940 by four teenagers and their dog, Lascaux contains some of the most spectacular prehistoric cave paintings in the world, dating to about 17,000 years ago. The paintings depict bulls, horses, deer, and abstract symbols, offering a window into the minds and lives of Ice Age people.
Comparing Ages
When you present your five sites to your counselor, arrange them from oldest to youngest. This comparison helps illustrate the enormous span of human history that archaeology covers. A conversation about Lascaux (17,000 years old), Mesa Verde (1,400 years old), and Jamestown (400 years old) shows how different the human story looks at different points in time.
