Scientists Have Artifacts

Scientists have artifacts, such as the bow and arrow and maize, to prove that trade networks did exist while the Native Americans lived in North America for a very long time. Artifacts were found in the Mississippian mounds also, which was a trade center at the time, proving that trade connections with the Rocky Mountain, Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast regions did exist. They found artifacts across North America that developed in one region and eventually reached to the other side of the continent.

Scientists have artifacts that prove trade networks existed among the Native Americans. Objects such as pottery, hunting materials, and agricultural tools would have been developed in a certain region, such as the bow and arrow being developed in the Great Lakes region. Artifacts would have then been discovered and dated more recent, telling scientists that that certain object would have been developed in one region and then moved or spread to other regions in the continent. Scientists could have also determined regional and local trade centers from ancient sites.

Proof that trade routes did exist with the Rocky Mountain, Great Lakes, and Gulf Coast regions is proved by the bow, maize, the flint hoe, and many other artifacts exist. The bow and arrow was first developed in the Great Lakes region. Later on, about the seventh century, it then showed up east of the Mississippi, and eventually would be used across the continent. Maize, first developed in the south western cultures, would also reach into the east. It wasn't originally the same type of maize though in the north eastern cultures; it was Northern Flint maize which could be grown in a shorter time period, allowing northeastern farmers to grow this crop. The flint hoe would reach the east later on and allowed greater production potential of maize farming in the north. In the Mississippian mound, shells were found, proving trade connections to the Gulf coast regions.

Maize was one piece of evidence that cultural and agricultural artifacts moved into the Eastern Woodlands. The bow and arrow is also evidence that cultural and agricultural differences from one region moved into the north eastern region. Pipes were found in archeological digs, proving that they grew, or at least had, tobacco. Tobacco was from the Caribbean and then spread north into the southern part of America and then north of there. In earthwork mounds in the Eastern Woodlands, scientists found obsidian from the Rocky Mountain region, mica from the Appalachians, copper from the Great Lakes region, and shells from around the Gulf Coast.

Scientists do have plenty of artifacts and evidence that trade routes all over the continent did exist while the Native Americans were living here, long before Europeans came to the Americas. It is also proved that cultural and agricultural artifacts moved from one region, such as the south west or Great Lakes, to other parts of the continent.