The so-called myth of the mound builders was:
A) based on the belief that Native Americans had been incapable of building the monumental earthworks found in North America
B) based on the memoirs of those on the de Soto expedition who maintained that the Indians knew nothing of mound construction
C) based on the discovery of stone tablets in the mounds with characters derived from Old World alphabets
D) all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The myth of the mound builders was based on the erroneous belief that Native Americans were not capable of building the impressive earthworks found in North America. It stemmed from a lack of understanding and respect for the abilities and achievements of indigenous peoples. Option B is partially correct, as some early European explorers did underestimate the abilities of the Native Americans they encountered. Option C is not accurate, as there is no evidence to support the existence of stone tablets with characters derived from Old World alphabets in the mounds.

The So-Called Myth of the Mound Builders Was