It is possible that approximately one-third of the time period of the Jaredite civilization is covered in the brief account in chapter 10. Although the record is scanty, the few details presented indicate these people had a high state of civilization. For example, the historian mentions that the people:
(1) "were exceedingly industrious, and they did buy and sell and traffic one with another, that they might get gain" (Ether 10:22);
(2) did work in "all manner of ore, and they did make gold, and silver, and iron, and brass, and all manner of metals; . . . And they did work all manner of fine work" (Ether 10:23);
(3) had "silks, and fine-twined linen; and they did work all manner of cloth" (Ether 10:24);
(4) "did make all manner of tools to till the earth, both to plow and to sow, to reap and to hoe, and also to thrash. And they did make all manner of tools with which they did work their beasts" (Ether 10:25-26);
(5) "did make all manner of weapons of war. And they did work all manner of work of exceedingly curious workmanship" (Ether 10:27).
Interestingly enough, recent archaeological discoveries also indicate that a populous people with a high state of civilization once lived on the American continents during the exact period indicated in the Book of Mormon.