the pre-columbian era is the time before christopher columbus went to the americas in 1492. at that time, native americans lived on the land that is now controlled by the united states. they had various cultures: native americans in the eastern woodlands hunted game and deer; native americans in the northwest fished; native americans in the southwest grew corn and built houses called pueblos; and native americans in the great plains hunted bison. around the year 1000, the vikings visited newfoundland. however, they did not settle there.