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In the New World, archaeologists had few written records to lead them to their sites. Instead, they had to rely on rumors they had heard while they were travelling. Although there are many tomb robbers, there were also many archaeologists who hoped to learn more about the civilizations and the people of North, South and Central America. For instance, Thomas Jefferson in 1784 did extensive archaeological research in his native home in Virginia using a scientific approach to learn more about the people who lived there before him. With the exception of a few important discoveries in the 1800's, the majority of finds in New World Archaeology have been in the 1900's when methods and techniques were more sophisticated. Archaeologists have a lot of mysteries about New World people, how they lived and why they disappeared. There is a wide range of cultures for the New World Archaeologist to study - from the early settlers 15,000 years ago to urban archaeology of today.