The document discusses three early American tribes - the Aztecs, Mound Builders, and Cliff Dwellers. It describes some artifacts left behind by the Aztecs and Mound Builders, such as hieroglyphics, statues, masks and jewelry. It also details where Cliff Dwellers lived - on cliff edges, and how they transitioned from nomadic to sedentary lives through farming corn, squash, beans and cotton. The document concludes by stating the author's preference to be part of the Mound Builders tribe due to their handcrafted houses, cooking materials and use of pits as ovens.

1. First Americans
Understanding our future from
the past
By: Gabi Mella

2. Three first American tribes we studied
• Aztecs
• Mound builders
• Cliff dwellers

3. What some first Americans left behind.
• Aztecs: They left behind hieroglyphics, books,
and status of their leaders.
• Mound builders: ceremonial masks and
jewelry

4. Where the cliff dwellers were found
• Cliff dwellers are found on the edges of cliffs
when they became sedentary and began to make
corn, they also began to build circular pits as
storage bins. Later they reinforced the bins with
stone walls and covered them with roofs, and
some people began to use the structures as
homes. Once they had developed farming
techniques to the arid climate and were able to
live completely on the corn, squash, beans, and
cotton they grew.

5. What tribe would I want to be in?
If I were in a tribe I would want to be in the
mound builders because they were very good
at making things by hand. For example mound
builders made their houses by hand. They
also made there cooking materials by hand
out of clay and dirt. Some would even dig pits
in the ground to act as earth ovens.