The pre-Columbian era can be a challenging time period for students to study. They may often feel an enormous disconnect; the relevance of learning about people and cultures hundreds of years in the past is not obvious. However, resources that museums provide -- and the opportunity to learn about the work of archeologists -- can often bring the past alive in surprising ways.

As a sample study of a pre-Columbian culture, the Moundville archeological site in central Alabama is unique in that it is a true ancient site situated in the heart of the American South. One does not need to travel to South or Central America to experience the authenticity of this intriguing pre-Columbian settlement. Yet few American students even know it exists. In this session, you will explore Moundville as an example of an engaging study in pre-Columbian American culture, as well as a useful starting point for experiencing actual history museums and creating history museums in the classroom.

Content Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• show a general familiarity with the basic history of the pre-Columbian (A.D. 1000 - A.D. 1450) "town" and culture located in Moundville, Alabama.

Strategy Focus

After completing this session, you will be able to:

• understand the interconnectedness of other disciplines (for example anthropology, archeology, science, and art) to the study of history, and will be better able to integrate these into your own history teaching;
• understand the importance of a hands-on history lab experience (classroom museum) in helping students to connect with and retain historical content;
• understand how material culture helps us reconstruct our knowledge of the past; and
• identify local sites for hands-on history activities relevant to the U.S. history content you teach.