SONGS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES™

The Importance of Archeology

“Archeologists dig up bones and artifacts,
That tell the stories of our land
Stories that date way, way back
Long before our country began”

Songs for Social Studies

Have you ever wandered through the woods and found rocks shaped like arrow heads? Did you ever find an old cloth remnant, piece of pottery, or something that could maybe have been used as a tool long ago? If you have been fortunate enough to come across one these items you might have found an important artifact. These artifacts could be as close to you as your own back yard.

So what exactly is an artifact anyway? Artifacts are any item that have been used or made by people long ago. Artifacts are an important resource that archeologists use to piece together the history of a people or civilization. Artifacts can be used by archeologist as a way of gathering clues. These clues help them draw conclusions about customs and ways of an earlier life.

What was our country like long ago? Who were its first inhabitants? How did we get to where we are today? These are all questions that can be answered with the help of artifacts.

The Mayans, for example, have an amazing history. They were one of the first inhabitants of North America. By using artifacts, archeologists have uncovered the story that brought the Mayan people to the Americas. Archeologists traced their journey by observing Stone Stelae and architecture that appears to be from an Asian ancestry. They have discovered that the Mayans came across the Bering Strait following animal herds. By finding tools, weapons, clothes and pottery, that the Mayans used, archeologist can see the direction they traveled. Mayans came studying stars and building cities as far south as New Mexico.

Mayan people were here long before the Europeans settlers came to this country. Tribes like the Anazisis, Aztecs, and Incans had built cities and nations hundreds of years before the early explorers from the Europe.

Each ancient culture has a fascinating history to it and this history can be supported by the artifacts that have been preserved over the years. If you have a curiosity about the past and how we came to be think about becoming an archeologist. You can become one of the unique story tellers of the world by finding out how others lived on this world long before we came along.

To find out more about explorers and expeditions, see the lyrics and hear the song sample.