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The Nazca culture was famous for its desert line drawings, the Nazca lines, which are best seen from the air. They also excelled in techniques of underground aqueducts, called puquios, and their distinctive pottery.

The Chimú were a pre-Incan civilization that arose out of the remnants of the Moche civilization. The Chimú are best known for their capital, Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America, and their advanced metallurgy and irrigation systems.

The Inca Empire was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. They are known for constructing extensive and intricate road systems, the architectural marvel of Machu Picchu, and their unique method of record-keeping using knotted strings called quipu.

The Toltecs were a Mesoamerican culture that preceded the Aztecs and influenced their culture. They are known for the warrior art and architecture evidenced at their capital Tula, and their influence on other Mesoamerican religion and iconography.

Cahokia was the largest and most influential urban settlement of the Mississippian culture which flourished from about A.D. 900 to 1500. Known for its large mounds such as Monks Mound, Cahokia's contributions include extensive trade networks and cultural influences throughout the region.

The Taino people were the principal inhabitants of the Caribbean islands at the time of Columbus’s arrival in America. They lived in chiefdoms and are known for their agricultural expertise, especially in the cultivation of cassava.

The Zapotec civilization, centered in the Valley of Oaxaca in Mexico, is known for its contribution to writing with their script being one of the earliest in Mesoamerica and for the construction of the city of Monte Alban.

The Mixtec people were known for their skill in metalwork, pottery, and their codices, which were intricately painted screen-fold books that recorded history, genealogy, and gods.

Not so much a civilization, Teotihuacan was an ancient Mesoamerican city that thrived between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D. and is known for its vast size, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Avenue of the Dead.

The Chavin were an early civilization in the northern Andean highlands of Peru. They were known for their influence in art and architecture as well as for their religious significance, which was centered around the Chavin de Huantar temple complex.

The Muisca were a Chibcha-speaking people in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia. They are known for their intricate goldwork which inspired the El Dorado legend and their complex social organization based on a confederation of chiefs (caciques).

The Maya civilization was noted for its hieroglyphic script, the only known fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system.

The Tiwanaku empire was located near Lake Titicaca in the Andes and is known for its monumental architecture such as the Akapana Pyramid, precision cut stone construction, and a significant ceremonial complex at Pumapunku.

The Aztec civilization emerged in the 14th century and flourished in central Mexico. Key contributions include the building of their capital Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City, an advanced agricultural system known as chinampas, and a rich mythology and cultural heritage.

The Moche civilization flourished along the northern coast of Peru. They are known for their elaborate pottery, sophisticated irrigation systems, and the construction of the Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (pyramid temples).

The Wari were a Middle Horizon civilization in the Andes of Peru known for their urban planning, including an extensive road network, terraced field agriculture known as andenes, and the construction of large administrative centers.

Caral is considered to be one of the oldest civilizations in the Americas, dating back to approximately 2600 BCE. Located in the Supe Valley of Peru, Caral is known for its sophisticated urban planning and monumental architecture, such as the Great Pyramid.

Often regarded as the Mother Culture of Mesoamerica, the Olmec civilization is well known for its colossal head sculptures, as well as its contributions to the development of writing and the Mesoamerican calendar system.

El Mirador was one of the most populous Mayan cities during the Late Preclassic period. Known for its large architectural structures such as La Danta temple, El Tigre, and Los Monos complexes, it's considered a cradle of Mayan civilization.