Armstrong culture

The Armstrong culture were a group of people who lived a long time ago, from 1 to 500 CE, in the Big Sandy River Valley. This area is in parts of Northeastern Kentucky and Western West Virginia. They were part of a larger group called the Hopewell, known for their special ways of living and making things. The Armstrong culture left behind clues about their lives, helping us learn about the past. Their homes and the things they made give us a picture of how people lived in that time.

Origins

The Armstrong people were part of a group called the Hopewell tradition. They lived in the Big Sandy River Valley and mixed with local groups known as the Adena. Their culture was influenced by trade and slowly changed over time into what later became known as the Buck Garden people.

Material culture

The Armstrong people created beautiful yellow-orange pottery with a special glaze. Their pottery looked similar to types found in western Ohio.

They built small round houses spread out over a wide area. These people often traded with distant places instead of building large structures. They also buried their dead in small mounds along the Big Sandy Valley. They made tools from stone found in the Muskingum River area.

Their farming included climbing beans, pumpkins, and other squashes. They also grew native grasses, tubers, bulbs, and gourds. Maize, or corn, was not part of their farming because it had not yet reached the area during their time.