
North America is home to ancient civilizations that thrived long before the arrival of European settlers. These remarkable cities, often overshadowed by their more famous counterparts in other regions, were centers of innovation and trade. They also served as the epicenters of culture and power. Let’s discuss five forgotten cities that commanded respect and left behind enduring legacies in North America.
Cahokia

Cahokia was the largest city north of present-day Mexico. This once-bustling city featured over 100 raised structures, including houses, burial mounds, and other buildings. Though details about this ancient civilization are sparse, it is recognized as a vibrant center for crafts, trade, and architecture.
Teotihuacan

An ancient Mesoamerican city 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is known for its beautiful pyramids, like the Pyramid of the Sun and the other one of the Moon. At its height, it was the largest city in the Americas, with over 125,000 inhabitants, predating the Aztec Empire by centuries.
Chaco Canyon

Between AD 900 and AD 1150, Chaco Canyon played a pivotal role as a major cultural center for the Ancestral Puebloans and featured fifteen massive complexes. Situated in New Mexico, Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves these pre-Columbian ruins, the largest in North America until the 19th century.
Etzanoa

This historical city near Arkansas City, Kansas, flourished from 1450 to 1700. Spanish explorers called it “the Great Settlement”. It was among the most dense Native American settlements in the United States, possibly second only to Cohokia. In April 2017, its location was identified after a local teenager discovered a cannonball from a 1601 battle.
Spiro Mounds

In 1933, treasure hunters found a 500-year-old burial chamber near Spiro, Oklahoma, filled with exquisite artifacts. Known as the “American King Tut’s tomb,” it revealed a powerful civilization that rivaled the Aztecs and Incas that ruled vast areas, including parts of St. Louis, Moundville, and Etowah.