Some countries are renowned for their archaeology and remnants of ancient civilisations. The US doesn’t tend to be one of them – but perhaps it should be. While city architecture rarely goes back earlier than the 19th century, head off the beaten path and you'll find wall paintings, rock carvings and impeccably preserved pre-Columbian dwellings, and every state has tucked-away windows on the past.

Click through this gallery to learn about the most amazing archaeological sites in the USA...