Armstrong culture

The Armstrong culture were a group of people who lived long 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 show us 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 changed slowly over time.

Material culture

The Armstrong people made yellow-orange pottery with a special glaze. It looked like pottery from western Ohio.

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

They grew 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.