Chapter 2 The First Americans Vocabulary

Artifact Object made by humans and used by archaeologists to learn about past human culture

Archaeology Study of evidence left by early people in order to find out about past cultures

Glacier Thick sheets of ice that covered the world over 10,000 years ago

Land-Bridge Theory Scientific explanation for the arrival of the earliest Americans who traveled over the Beringian “land bridge”

Irrigation A method to water crops by channeling water from rivers or streams

Surplus Extra goods---more than is needed

Adobe Sun-dried brick used to build homes called Pueblos 

Culture Unique way of life that are shaped by a variety of factors overtime, how a group of people live

Culture Area Region in which people share a similar way of life

Native American Descendents of the first people to reach the Americas thousands of years ago

Tribe A group of people that share common customs, languages or rituals

Clans Groups of families that were related to one another, Iroquois lived in clans

Civilization An advanced culture in which people have developed cities, science, and industries

Sachem A tribal chief that was elected by women of the clan