Center for American Archeology facts for kids
The Center for American Archeology, or CAA, is a special place in Kampsville, Illinois, USA. It's a non-profit group that studies and teaches about the past. The CAA is located near the Illinois River.
This center focuses on learning about the cultures of prehistoric Native Americans. These are the first people who lived in America long, long ago, before written history. The CAA also looks at the history of European settlers who came later.
Contents
What is the Center for American Archeology?
The Center for American Archeology is like a detective agency for history! It's a place where experts study old objects and places to understand how people lived thousands of years ago. They do this through archaeology, which is the study of human history and prehistory through digging up old sites and analyzing artifacts.
Where is the CAA Located?
The CAA is found in a very important area often called the "Nile of North America." This is because it's where the Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet. Just like the Nile River was important for ancient Egypt, these rivers were vital for early people in North America.
This river area is full of amazing clues from the past. Many different groups of people lived here over thousands of years. Because of this, archaeologists find many artifacts (old tools, pottery, and other items) from different time periods.
Discovering Ancient Cultures
The CAA specializes in North American cultures from before Christopher Columbus arrived. They have found many items from the Woodland Period, especially from the Middle Woodland Hopewell culture. The Hopewell people were known for their large earthworks and beautiful crafts. Later, they also find artifacts from the Mississippian culture, who built large mound cities like Cahokia.
One of the most famous places the CAA has studied is the Koster Site in Greene County, Illinois. At this site, researchers have found proof of people living there for more than 7,000 years! They've uncovered evidence going all the way back to the Early Archaic period, which was from about 8000 BC to 1000 BC. Imagine people living in the same spot for that long!
Visiting the Center for American Archeology
The Center for American Archeology is about a 90-minute drive north of St. Louis. It's also not far from the famous Cahokia Mounds, which are near Collinsville, Illinois.
The CAA has a Visitor’s Center and Museum located in an old building called the Kamp Store. This building was a general store in the early 1900s. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history.
External links
- Center for American Archaeology
pt:Arqueologia das Américas fi:Intiaanien historia
