14 of the US’s most important archaeological sites

Tracing the Old Ancients of North America

The United States, though younger than 250 years, boasts archaeological sites that outdate Viking seas, Rome, and the pyramids. These landmarks illuminate the saga of the first peoples who crossed the Bering Strait at least 15,000 years ago—an arrival still shrouded in mystery.

Challenges of Early Discoveries

Bearing testimony, archaeologist Kenneth Feder explains to Business Insider that as time recedes, populations dwindle; unearthing and interpreting these sites grows harder. Feder, who authored “Ancient America: Fifty Archaeological Sites to See for Yourself”, praises the legacy of each location.

Sites with Age Doubts

• White Sands— skeptics question its age yet it enriches the narrative of early Americans.
• Cooper’s Ferry— debated chronology yet still contributes vital insights.

Recent Cultural Highlights

• Complex Buildings— forming the skeleton of diverse settlements.
• Pictographs— vivid pictorial lessons that illuminate spreading cultures.

Public Access to Ancient History

Many of these sites welcome visitors, offering a tangible portal into the United States’ prehistoric past. Explore, learn, and witness the enduring story of early North America firsthand.

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Stones on White Sands

New Mexico once thrived with camels, mammoths, and giant sloths. When the climate warmed about 11 000 years ago, the water of Lake Otero retreated, exposing footprints of early humans who lived among these extinct animals.

Ancient tracks reveal hunters’ plans

• Some prints appear to follow a sloth, offering a rare glimpse into how ancient hunters behaved.
• Recent studies estimate that these fossilized tracks date back 21 000 to 23 000 years.

Because the dates are accurate, the prints would predate other archaeological sites in the United States, raising intriguing questions about who these people were and how they arrived in the Southwestern state.

“Where are they coming from?”

Feder asked. “They are not parachute dropping in New Mexico. They must have come from somewhere else, which means there are even older sites.” Archaeologists simply haven’t found them yet.

While visitors can soak in the sight of the eponymous white sands, the footprints are currently off‑limits.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Pennsylvania

Pre‑Clovis Discovery at Meadowcroft National Historic Site

In 2013, the Meadowcroft National Historic Site in southwestern Pennsylvania underwent a major archaeological excavation that uncovered artifacts older than the classic Clovis culture. The dig has sparked renewed debate over the earliest steps humans took across the continent.

Initial Controversy

During the 1970s, James M. Adovasio and his colleagues proposed that stone tools found at the site dated back roughly 16,000 years—a date that would place these people well in advance of the widely accepted first Bering land bridge crossing around 12,000 to 13,000 years ago. The hypothesis was termed “pre‑Clovis” and was released to a community that largely remained skeptical.

Evolution of the Debate

• Early skeptics cited potential flaws in radiocarbon dating that could have exaggerated the age of the artifacts.
• Since the 1970s, numerous U.S. locations have surfaced with pre‑Clovis evidence, slowly shifting the scientific consensus toward pre‑Clovis habitation.
• Adovasio’s meticulous excavation work remains foundational; his reports stress that the site “is absolutely a major, important, significant site.”

Public Display and Continued Research

The final excavation records are on display at the Heinz History Center, which allows visitors to examine the dig in situ. Visitors can see the rigging, the shelters, and the array of artifacts that together paint a picture of a pre‑Clovis presence in the region.

Implications for North American Prehistory

The Meadowcroft findings help archaeologists realize that robust evidence of human life on the continent existed well before the Clovis culture, reshaping our understanding of early migration patterns and the timeline of human settlement in North America.

Cooper’s Ferry, Idaho

New Findings at Cooper’s Ferry Challenge the Traditional Clovis Narrative

Recent archaeological discoveries at the Cooper’s Ferry site in western Idaho have fueled a growing debate over the earliest human habitation of North America. Radiocarbon analysis of material recovered from a hearth in the area indicates that people lived there between 14,000 and 16,000 years ago, although some experts date the occupation closer to 11,500 years ago.

Stone Tools and Charred Bones Offer Fresh Clues

• Artifacts include a small set of stemmed tools that differ significantly from the fluted projectile points characteristic of the Clovis culture.
• The tools, along with charred animal bones, were found within a carefully constructed hearth, suggesting a deliberate domestic context.

Contrasting Dates Spark Ongoing Discussion

In a 2019 Science Advances paper, researchers noted that the stemmed tools represent a divergent technological tradition. By contrast, other scholars posit that early settlers may have migrated along the West Coast, using boats or canoes to navigate beneath expanding ice sheets in Alaska and Canada.

“People using boats, using canoes could hop along that coast and end up in North America long before those glacial ice bodies decoupled,” Feder said, highlighting the potential maritime routes that predate the earliest Clovis evidence.

Cooper’s Ferry: Land of Traditional Nez Perce

Cooper’s Ferry sits on land traditionally inhabited by the Nez Perce people. The Bureau of Land Management owns the area in public stewardship, ensuring that the site remains accessible for future research and cultural heritage preservation.

Page-Ladson, Florida

Discoveries Beneath the Waters of Page-Ladson

From a Navy SEAL to a Pre‑Clovis Treasure

In the early 1980s, former Navy SEAL Buddy Page alerted a team of paleontologists and archaeologists to a sinkhole along the Aucilla River nicknamed “Booger Hole.” Inside that underwater cavity, researchers uncovered:

• Remains of mammoth and mastodon skeletons
• Stone tools fashioned from local flint
• A mastodon tusk bearing cut marks believed to be produced by a hand‑made tool

More Bones, More Tools, and a Radiocarbon Time‑Hall

Return visits to the site in recent years brought additional bones and tools to the archaeological record. Using radiocarbon dating, scientists established that the site predates the Clovis culture, dating back to about 14,550 years ago.

In a statement issued in 2016, researcher Michael Waters noted:

“The stone tools and faunal remains at the site show that at 14,550 years ago, people knew how to find game, fresh water and material for making tools. These people were well‑adapted to this environment.”

Restricted Access: Water, Private Property, Private Purpose

Because the Page‑Ladson site lies both underwater and on privately owned land, it remains closed to the public. Visitors are not permitted to explore the underwater sinkhole or the surrounding area.

Paisley Caves, Oregon

New Findings from Paisley Caves Uncover Early West Coast Habits

Scientists have delved into mineralized feces—known as coprolites—found in a limestone chamber near Paisley, Oregon. The discovery, a 2020 paper by archaeologist Dennis Jenkins, sheds light on ancient diets and human migration patterns.

Key Details from the 2020 Research

• Age: Radiocarbon dating placed the coprolites at over 14,000 years old.
• Origins: Genetic analysis suggested the waste belonged to early humans.
• Implications: Further study indicates a group of pre-Clovis people inhabited the West Coast roughly a thousand years before the widely recognized Clovis culture emerged.

These findings position the Paisley Caves as a crucial piece of the puzzle, detailing how humans dispersed across North America long before the Clovis era.

Location and Ownership

The caves are located in southcentral Oregon. They lie on land federally managed by the Bureau of Land Management and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Swan Point, Alaska

Alaska’s Oldest Human Settlement

The earliest traces of human life in Alaska can be traced back over 14,000 years to the site of Swan Point in the state’s eastern‑central region.

Land Bridge, Beringia and the Bering Sea

• When the area between Russia, Canada and Alaska was above water, a land bridge called Beringia connected these lands.
• Today that bridge is submerged, but it was once a corridor that allowed people to move from Siberia to the Americas.

Evidence of Early Human Life

• Hearths and stone tools at Swan Point date back more than 14,000 years.
• Bones of mammoths have also been discovered, indicating that these animals once roamed the area.

Seasonal Hunting Camp Hypothesis

• Researchers believe that the region served as a seasonal hunting camp.
• Human hunter‑gatherers would have tracked the return of mammoths during certain parts of the year and hunted them, providing abundant food.

Challenges of Arctic Excavation

Archaeological work in Alaska presents unique obstacles:

• Digging seasons are very short, and excavation is costly.
• Some sites require helicopter access to reach, adding to the expense.
• Despite these challenges, Alaska remains a rich source of archaeological evidence about the earliest Americans.

Blackwater Draw, New Mexico

A groundbreaking discovery in Portales, New Mexico

Unveiling the ancient Clovis culture

In 1929, 19‑year‑old James Ridgley Whiteman stumbled upon colossal mammoth bones and intricately fluted projectile points near Clovis, New Mexico. These remarkable artifacts led archaeologists to recognize the myriad cultures that once flourished in this region.

• Clovis points are generally larger than the smaller Folsom flutes, which were first uncovered at a distinct archaeological site in New Mexico.
• After Whiteman’s early findings, researchers long believed the Clovis people were the first settlers to traverse the Bering land bridge from Asia around 13 000 years ago. Modern estimates suggest a human arrival of at least 15 000 years ago.

Today, Eastern New Mexico University’s Blackwater Draw Museum welcomes visitors to the ancient site from April through October, offering a unique glimpse into the region’s prehistoric past.

Upper Sun River, Alaska

Excavations at the Upward Sun River, Alaska

In 2013, archaeologists uncovered the skeleton of a child in the Upward Sun River region, or Xaasaa Na’, located in Central Alaska.

Local Indigenous Context

• The child is known to local indigenous groups as Xach’itee’aanenh t’eede gay, which translates to “Sunrise Girl-Child”.

Genetic Insights

• Genetic testing determined the infant was approximately 11,300 years old.
• The child belonged to a previously unknown Native American group, referred to as the Ancient Beringians.
• Researchers found that the Ancient Beringians were related to modern Native Americans, but not through direct ancestry.
• The ancestral line had become genetically isolated around 25,000 years ago, before diverging into two distinct groups: the Ancient Beringians and the ancestors of present-day Native Americans.

Implications for Human Migration

The research suggests that humans may have entered Alaska roughly 20,000 years ago, aligning with the timeframe during which genetic isolation began.

Poverty Point National Monument, Louisiana

b>Poverty Point in Louisiana – An Ancient Landscape

National Park Service

Unveiling a Remote World

The Poverty Point complex stretches over 80 feet long and 5 feet tall. From a bird’s eye view, the rows of curved mounds form a breathtaking pattern. The mounds were built over 3,000 years ago by hunter‑gatherers using tons of soil.

The Mystery of Their Purpose

• Did the mounds serve a ceremonial function?
• Could they have marked social status?
• Archaeologists are still debating the exact reason.

A Frequent Meeting Place

Artifacts left by diverse groups suggest the site was used sporadically for hundreds of years. Attendance at Poverty Point became a trading hub.

• Tools and rocks were transported from up to 800 miles away.
• Deer, fish, frogs, alligators, nuts, grapes, and other foods were consumed.
• These remains provide clues about daily diets and lifestyles.

Explore the World Heritage Site Year‑Round

Visit Poverty Point anytime throughout the year and witness the remarkable history embodied within its ancient mounds.

Horseshoe Canyon, Utah

Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon

Remote Treasure Colorful Walls

• Attracted visitors for ages.
• Artifacts from 9,000‑7,000 BCE.
• Pictographs dated 2,000‑900 years ago.

Four Art Galleries Life‑Sized Figures

• Anthropomorphic and animal images.
• Barrier Canyon style.
• Utah region, Desert Archaic culture.

Spiritual, Practical, Social Significance Natural History Museum of Utah

• Captured time of group meetings.
• Spiritual meanings.
• Practical uses.

Challenging Trek NPS Warning

• Dangerously hot in summer.
• Amazing to view in person.

Creative Geniuses Feder

• Artists described as creative geniuses.

Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

The Antelope House at Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Michael Denson / National Park Service

Nestled within the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly offers sweeping desert vistas and traces of human history spanning thousands of years.

Ancient Roots

Centuries ago, Ancestral Pueblo and Hopi peoples cultivated crops, produced pictographs, and established cliff dwellings. Over 900 years ago, Puebloan builders erected the White House, its name derived from the clay’s pale hue. The dwelling’s upper levels rest atop a sandstone cliff, with sheer drops outside the windows.

Modern Diné Presence

Today, Diné (Navajo) communities continue to inhabit Canyon de Chelly. Diné journalist Alastair Lee Bitsóí recently chronicled visits to sacred and restricted zones, including Tsé Yaa Kin, where archaeologists uncovered human remains.

Historical Hardships

• In the 1860s, the U.S. government forced 8,000 Navajo to relocate to Fort Sumner in New Mexico.
• The treacherous journey, known as the “Long Walk,” inflicted tremendous loss.
• Eventually, Navajo peoples returned, yet their homes and crops had been destroyed.

Public Access

Hiking the White House remains the sole open trail to the public without a Navajo guide or National Park Service ranger.

Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

Reimagining Mesa Verde’s Legacy

From Pueblo Roots to Presidential Pledges

Long before tourists crowd the scenic roads, two pioneering women in the early 1900s rallied to safeguard Colorado’s cliffside ruins. Their efforts culminated in a historic bill signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, launching Mesa Verde as the nation’s inaugural park dedicated to honoring “the works of man.”

Architectural Wonders Spanning Decades

• Cliff Palace’s grand expanse boasts over 100 rooms and nearly two dozen ceremonial kivas.
• Tree‑ring dating (dendrochronology) reveals Ancestral Pueblo settlers crafted these structures by the 1100s and migrated by the 1300s.
• Renowned archaeologist Feder calls Mesa Verde his favorite site, noting the surreal experience that refuses to let visitors leave.

Visitor Experience: From Roadside Views to Hiking Trails

Many dwellings can be appreciated from the main road, while others entice adventurers after a modest hike. Some sites require extra tickets and can feel crowded, Feder mentioned—yet the park’s enduring charm keeps visitors eager for a second visit.

Cahokia, Illinois

Cahokia: North America’s Earliest Urban Settlement

Location: Near modern St. Louis, Illinois.

Population: Between 10,000 and 20,000 people lived in the area about 1,000 years ago.

Architecture: Large earth mounds served as foundations for important structures, built by the Mississippian people. The Guardian noted that these mounds were hand‑crafted.

Society and Daily Life

• Hunted game, cultivated crops, and produced specialized goods.
• Represented a sophisticated agricultural civilization.
• Known for importing raw materials from regions over a thousand miles away.

Scientific Findings

• Researchers uncovered mass graves that may indicate human sacrifice.
• Archaeologists discovered wooden post circles referred to as “woodhenges.” These served as a type of calendar; solstice sunrises and sunsets were aligned with specific mounds.

Decline and Legacy

After a few centuries, Cahokia’s population dwindled, with the settlement disappearing by roughly 1350.

The largest mound remains intact, and some original features have been partially reconstructed.

Public Access

Cahokia is generally open to visitors. However, certain sections are temporarily closed for renovation work.

Montezuma Castle, Arizona

Montezuma Castle: A Cliff Dwelling in Arizona

Location: Camp Verde, Arizona

Perched atop a limestone cliff, the site commonly referred to as Montezuma Castle is actually a five‑story, 20‑room complex built around 1100 by the Sinagua people. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a royal residence and has no connection to the Aztec ruler Montezuma.

Architectural Genius

• Curved Design: The structure follows the natural slope of the cliff, an engineering choice that would have been far more challenging than a straight façade.
• Architectural Sense: Feder described the inhabitants as architects who possessed an aesthetic sensibility.

Practical Innovations

The Sinagua were ingenious in creating systems that helped them thrive in a hot, dry environment:

• Thick walls to retain coolness.
• Shady spots to provide relief from the sun.
• Irrigation techniques that maximized water usage.

Visitor Experience

Feder noted that the dwelling is reasonably accessible via a short walk along a trail. Visitors can view the exterior but are prohibited from entering the interior.

Key Takeaway

Montezuma Castle showcases the ingenuity of a pre‑modern people who combined aesthetic beauty with practical solutions to survive an arid landscape. Its design remains a testament to the architectural mastery of the Sinagua.