Question 1: Today we’re at Hovenweep National Monument. Which people built these structures?
- Ancestral Pueblo
- Iroquois
- Navajo
Correct Answer: Ancestral Pueblo
Fact: The Ancestral Pueblo people built the towers, dwellings, and ceremonial structures at Hovenweep between 1200 and 1300 CE. Many theories have been put forward as to the purpose of these buildings, but their true function is still a mystery.
Question 2: Which river’s name is derived from an Anishinaabe word?
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Yukon
Correct Answer: Missouri
Fact: The Mississippi is North America’s second-longest river. It takes its name from the Anishinaabe word ‘Misi-ziibi,’ meaning simply ‘Great River.’ The Anishinaabe are a culturally and linguistically related group of Indigenous Peoples from the Great Lakes area of Canada and the US.
Question 3: Where did people first arrive in the Americas?
- Newfoundland
- California
- Alaska
Correct Answer: Alaska
Fact: Between 20,000 and 16,000 years ago, the world’s sea level was much lower. This allowed people to cross a land bridge between present day Siberia and Alaska. Although the exact timeline of humans’ arrival in the Americas is unclear, with some estimates suggesting as long ago as 30,000 years, what is certain is that it didn’t take people long to populate the continents.