When archeologists find flint from Texas, teawares from England, or shells common to the Gulf Coast thousands of miles away from their point of origin, it's a sign that commerce, transportation and discovery are at work.
Native Americans established extensive trade and transportation networks that criss-crossed North America and beyond. Explorers, colonists, and settlers followed them and etched deeper routes throughout the land. Finding resources to exploit and markets in which to sell them, travelers and traders created systems of cultural exchange. They also created meeting points, such as taverns or trading posts.
Archeology documents how trade and transportation brought cultures together - sometimes in collision, other times in community - leaving a rich record.
Last updated: June 21, 2021