Human Migration and Immigration

Migration and immigration are the foundation of the American story. From the first peoples to cross the Bering Land Bridge, to the sailors who arrived at Hawai'i, to European immigrants, all have left archeological traces. In many cases, archeology is how we know their stories, because it provides information that cannot be known any other way. This is particularly true for indigenous or Native peoples and those who could not read or write. Archeology, especially placed into a comparative context with the place of origin, contributes to understanding the cause or motivation for moving (climate change? food? violence?) and the result.