Mound Builders

The video explores the history and myths surrounding the mounds in Ohio, focusing on the Scioto River. It discusses the engineering skills of the mound builders and the various theories about their origins, including the idea of a lost civilization. The video also covers early scientific studies, such as those by Samuel Morton, which attempted to classify the mound builders racially. The appeal of the mound builder myth is examined, highlighting its role in justifying the displacement of Native American tribes during the Trail of Tears.

Who provided major funding for the Odyssey project?

• The National Endowment for the Arts

• The National Science Foundation

• The National Endowment for the Humanities

• The Corporation for National and Community Service

What did Ephraim Squire and Edwin Davis believe about the mounds?

• They were built by prehistoric Indian builders

• They were natural formations

• They were built by European settlers

• They were the work of a lost civilization

Which group was NOT considered a possible builder of the mounds in the early 1800s?

• Modern Indians

• Vikings

• Welsh

• Lost Tribes of Israel

What method did Dr. Samuel Morton use to measure skulls?

• Using a caliper

• Filling them with mustard seeds

• Using a ruler

• Filling them with sand

What was the conclusion of Dr. Morton's skull measurements?

• Mound builders were an unknown race

• Mound builders and modern Indians were the same race

• Mound builders were a different race from modern Indians

• Mound builders were of European descent

What was the appeal of the lost race theory?

• It was supported by the indigenous populations

• It was scientifically proven

• It was a romantic and dramatic explanation

• It was a simple explanation

Why was the lost race theory politically convenient for settlers?

• It was a popular myth

• It justified the removal of indigenous populations

• It supported the idea of European superiority

• It was endorsed by the government

What did the lost race theory suggest about the cultural development of the mound builders?

• They were equally advanced as modern Indians

• They had no cultural development

• They were more advanced than modern Indians

• They were less advanced than modern Indians

What was the impact of the lost race theory on the claims of indigenous populations?

• It had no impact on their claims

• It weakened their claims to the land

• It was irrelevant to their claims

• It strengthened their claims to the land

During what historical event did the mound builder myth gain popularity?

• The American Revolution

• The Trail of Tears

• The Civil War

• The Gold Rush