If you have studied about California Indians, you may have heard about the Emeryville Shellmound. Maybe you are doing some research to learn more about the site and what archaeologists found there. The questions below will lead you to more information about the site. If you are interested in more details or pictures, check out the links on the Glossary or click on linked words in the text.

Introduction to the Emeryville Shellmound

• What is a shellmound?
• What was the Emeryville Shellmound?
• How was the Emeryville Shellmound formed and how did it get so big?
• What happened to the Emeryville Shellmound?
• Why was the Emeryville Shellmound important?
• Why couldn't the Emeryville Shellmound be saved?
  

Life & People of the Emeryville Mound

• Who lived at the Emeryville Shellmound?
• When did people live at the Emeryville Shellmound?
• How has the Emeryville environment changed over time?
• How did the Emeryville people live?

Archaeological Investigations

• How do archaeologists know where to dig?
• Why did archaeologists want to dig at the Emeryville Shellmound?
• How do archaeologists know about the age of the site?
• How do archaeologists know how the people of Emeryville lived?
• What did archaeologists do at the Emeryville Shellmound site in 1999?
• What did archaeologists learn about Shellmound Park in 1999?
• How did archaeologists study the material they collected?
• What kinds of Native American artifacts did archaeologists find?
• How did the Native American people of Emeryville bury their dead?
• Was the Emeryville Shellmound a cemetery?
• Do archaeologists get to keep what they find?
• What happens to the artifacts and samples after they have been studied?