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Native Village During the Woodland Period
- Paleoindian Period (roughly 12,000 – 8,000 BC): This period marks the initial migration of humans into North America, with evidence of nomadic groups following large game animals. During this time, Native Americans lived in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virgina. Stone carvings and other artifacts have been documented in this region. The natives at this time were nomads who hunted mastodons and mammoths.
- Archaic Period (roughly 8,000 – 3,000 BC): As the environment became more like the present day, people adapted by developing new tools, living in larger groups, and staying in seasonal base camps for longer periods. Tribes continued to use this area for seasonal hunting. Settlements were created along the Potomac River in Paw Paw, Great Cacapon, and Hancock.
- Woodland Period (roughly 3,000 BC – 1,000 AD): This period saw the development of horticulture, pottery, and increased social complexity. The Native Americans visited the hot springs in Berkeley Springs traveling from as far away as Canada to partake in the medicinal mineral springs. The Brosius archaeological site in Morgan County was uncovered and studied by prominent archeologists. The area of the confluence of the Potomac and Cacapon Rivers was a major trading post for tribes in the Ohio Valley. This site is considered the most important site in Eastern West Virginia.
- Mississippian Period (roughly 1,000 – 1,520 AD): Characterized by maize agriculture, larger villages, chiefdoms, and the construction of earthwork mounds. Earthwork mounds were built by the Adena people in this area although many have been lost to agriculture. Many of these mounds exist in the state and in the Eastern Panhandle region with the most significant one in Hampshire County.
- Exploratory Period (roughly 1520 – 1670 AD): This period begins with the arrival of Europeans and the subsequent interactions, trade, and conflicts between them and Native American tribes. This area was still predominantly seasonal hunting grounds for tribes such as the Shawnee, Mingo, and Delaware.
- European Colonization and its Impact: The arrival of Europeans brought about significant changes. The Naïve American gave early settlers access to the mineral springs in the area. During this time, the native tribes ceased to occupy this area due to several factors such as disease, relocation, and displacement as a result of the Europeans settling in this area.
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