Question

What evidence was put forth to show that American Indians could not have built the mounds?

A. Artifacts found in the mound were purported to exhibit ancient writing
B. American Indians were considered to be too primitive and had no memory of constructing the mounds
Correct!
C. All answers are correct
D. Metal artifacts were purpoted to have been found in the mounds

Answer 1

The question pertains to outdated beliefs about the capabilities of Native Americans regarding the construction of earthen mounds in the Mississippi Valley. Evidence such as artifacts with ancient writing and metal items was misinterpreted to suggest these mounds couldn't be built by Native people. Modern research, however, acknowledges the skill and craftsmanship of ancient Native American cultures in mound building.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question addresses historical misconceptions about the mound builders of the Mississippi and the associated evidence. Europeans long held the false belief that Native Americans were incapable of constructing the impressive earthen mounds found in the Mississippi Valley, thinking them to be too primitive or lacking recollection of such constructions. Artifacts such as ancient writing and metal objects purportedly found in the mounds fueled various speculative theories. Nevertheless, contemporary scholarship, enhanced by archaeological findings and historical research, definitively attributes these monumental structures to the ingenuity of Native American societies, like the Mississippian and Fort Ancient cultures. These findings challenge the Eurocentric view and underscore the advanced societal structures and architectural capabilities of ancient Native American peoples.