On lands we now call Texas, from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle, from the piney eastern woods to the barren southwestern plains, diverse peoples established themselves as traders, hunters, and artisans. Some lived in cities and towns; others were migratory. Many different American Indian cultures traveled long distances to exchange foods, goods, and ideas. Evidence of early American Indians' diverse ways of life are found throughout Texas. Their artifacts help us understand how they lived thousands of years ago.