Early Civilizations of the Americas

An early culture of the Andean region, pre-dating the Moche culture in Peru. Chavin. Chavin was an ancient civilization in Peru known for its religious and artistic influence in early Andean history.

A large city built by the Maya people located in present-day Mexico. Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city known for its impressive pyramid and role as a cultural and political center.

An ancient manuscript book used for governmental, religious, and other records. Codex. A codex is an early form of a book made from pages bound together, used by ancient cultures to record important information.

An archaeological site of the Maya civilization in western Honduras. Copan. Copan is an ancient city known for its impressive Mayan ruins and detailed hieroglyphic inscriptions.

An extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges. Cordillera. In History, a cordillera is a series of parallel mountain ranges that have been significant barriers and routes throughout human history.

An archaeological site located in the Chilln Valley on the central coast of Peru. El Paraiso. El Paraiso is one of the oldest known pre-ceramic sites in the Americas, believed to be a large ancient settlement dating back to around 3500-1800 BCE.

An archaeological site of the Olmec civilization located in the present-day Tabasco. La Venta. La Venta is an ancient Olmec ceremonial center known for its impressive stone monuments and pyramidal structures.

A historical region in North America where ancient civilization arose independently. Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica is an area where ancient cultures like the Maya and Aztec developed complex societies with achievements in writing, architecture, and astronomy.

A Maya city state in southern Mexico that perished in the 7th century. Palenque. Palenque was an ancient Maya city known for its impressive ruins and sophisticated architecture.

An archaeological culture of a prehistoric indigenous peoples in North America. Poverty Point. Poverty Point is an ancient site in Louisiana known for its large earthworks built by Native Americans around 3,400 years ago.

Name for triple archaeological sites in Mexico, which was the major center of Olmec culture. San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo was one of the first major cities of the Olmec civilization, known for its colossal stone head sculptures.

A ruin of an ancient city found in a rainforest in Guatemala. Tikal. Tikal is a significant ancient Mayan city known for its impressive ruins and historical importance.