Lost World!

North America is home to numerous important archaeological sites, some dating as far back as 10,000 B.C. But what exactly makes a site significant in North America? 

We have awe-inspiring pyramids and lost cities that were built by manly societies without the aid of metal tools, beasts of burden or even the wheel. You can also walk the same trails that Icelandic Vikings once did. Do we have your attention now?

You know that many of these are World Heritage Sites and protected by the international community. So while access to these places is permitted -- usually for a small fee or donation -- please respect them. Plan ahead, as a few sites are only open during certain seasons. Last of all, no pot hunting!

Teotihuacan (200 B.C. To A.D. 650)

Just 30 miles northeast of Mexico City is the Mesoamerican site of Teotihuacan, the oldest on our list, which descends in order of age. Once the largest urban center in North America, by A.D. 500, Teotihuacan even rivaled the ancient city of Rome. Though there are many architectural sites to see here, your trip would not be complete if you did not walk down the Calzada de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) and climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, the world’s third largest pyramid, and the Pyramid of the Moon.

Palenque (100 B.C. To A.D. 800)

While you’re in Mexico, Palenque is also a must see. Considered by many to be the country’s most breathtaking archaeological site, the Mayan city of Palenque is located in the state of Chiapas. Here you will discover incredible architecture that includes several important Mayan temples. Excavations are still ongoing at Palenque, so you may even get a chance to see archaeologists in action if you time your trip right. A museum is also located on site and contains several of Palenque’s ancient artifacts.

Mesa Verde (A.D. 600 To A.D. 1300)

Head to the Four Corners, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, and you’ll find Mesa Verde National Park. Near Cortez, Colorado, it is far from being your everyday national park. Mesa Verde is home to more than 4,000 known archaeological sites, among them some 600-plus cliff dwellings of the ancestral Pueblo people. And don’t forget to hike up to the top of the mesa to explore the Sun Temple.

Cahokia (A.D. 600 To A.D. 1400)

The remains of the prehistoric city of Cahokia, which was established about the same time as the dwellings in Mesa Verde, sit a few miles west of Collinsville, Illinois, next to the Mississippi River. Archaeologists believe that Cahokia is the largest prehistoric urban center of the Mississippian Culture -- even larger than 11th-century London. This ancient settlement is home to several earthen mounds, including the Monks Mound, the largest earthwork north of Mexico. Another point of interest is Woodhenge. Many believe the prehistoric inhabitants of Cahokia used this archaeological feature as an astronomical calendar to monitor the seasons.

Chaco Canyon (A.D. 900 To A.D. 1150)

One of the most significant and impressive archaeological remains in North America can be discovered in New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon. Surrounded by mountains and mesas, your inner archaeologist will be awoken as you travel on backcountry trails that will lead you to remote Chacoan sites, ancient roads, rock art, and prehistoric stairways.

L’Anse Aux Meadows (A.D. 1000)

Contact between the peoples of the New World and the Old World is generally associated with Christopher Columbus, overshadowing a lesser-known date (by about 500 years) of historical importance when a group of Icelandic Vikings landed in what is today Newfoundland, Canada. It is on this island where the oldest known European settlement in North America is located. Founded around A.D. 1000, the archaeological site of L’Anse Aux Meadows revealed a small community, including houses, several workshops and a small forge, where iron was smelted in the New World for the first time.

Serpent Mound (A.D. 1070)

I had you at Serpent, didn’t I? And with good reason: Peebles, Ohio is home to the “largest surviving example of a prehistoric effigy mound in the world,” the Serpent Mound. Stretching 1,348 feet over the ground, the beautifully preserved ancient earthwork depicts the form of a moving serpent with an oval shape at the head. What purpose it served is still a mystery, but many prehistoric peoples occupied this area for thousands of years prior to European contact, and remnants of their sophisticated art and large-scale earthen creations, such as the Serpent Mound, still remain.

Tulum (A.D. 1200 To A.D. 1450)

We return to Mexico, 80 miles south of Cancun, to take in the archaeological site of Tulum. Constructed by the Maya shortly before the arrival of Europeans, Tulum is believed by archaeologists to have been a fort built to watch the sea. Walk through the site and marvel at monumental architecture, such as El Castillo, the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of Frescoes.

Roanoke Colony (A.D. 1585)

Back in the States, near the town of Manteo, North Carolina, is what many consider to be one of the world’s greatest mysteries. The Roanoke Colony, also known as the "lost colony," is where 116 men, women and children, including two that were born in the New World, vanished without a trace. Theories explaining the disappearance of the colonists abound, including starvation, a massacre and even an alien encounter. A visit to Roanoke Colony is definitely worth the trip. And who knows -- maybe you will find a clue that sheds light on this bizarre occurrence.

Pointe-A-Calliere

Venture across the Canadian border, and you’ll find the Pointe-a-Calliere museum, a unique destination and archaeological treasure trove located in the heart of Old Montreal. Named after the third governor of Montreal, Chevalier Louis Hector de Calliere (he built his house on this spot in 1688), Pointe-a-Calliere offers a journey through more than 1,000 years of human activity that include remarkable architectural remains and an archaeological crypt located below the city, all of which are displayed in situ (archaeology jargon for “left in place”). A visit to this location will also showcase the origins of Montreal’s distinct urban landscape and fascinating history.

Well, that’s more than 2,000 years of history covered by just 10 North American destinations. And this is just a small sampling of what can be found relatively close to home. So, dust off your fedora and set off on your own archaeological adventures, right here in your own backyard. Just leave your whip at home.

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