A 2010 analysis of a local stalagmite revealed that Native Americans were burning forests to clear land as early as 100BCE. Some regional late-prehistoric Eastern Woodland tribes were more involved in hunting and fishing, practicing the Eastern Agricultural Complex gardening method which used fire to clear out underbrush from certain wooded areas. Another group progressed to the more time-consuming, advanced companion crop fields method of gardening. Also continuing from the ancient Indigenous people of the state, they cultivated tobacco through to early historic times. It was used in numerous social and religious rituals.
A 2010 analysis of a local stalagmite revealed that Native Americans were burning forests to clear land as early as 100BCE Some regional late-prehistoric Eastern Woodland tribes were more involved in hunting and fishing practicing the Eastern Agricultural Complex gardening method which used fire to clear out underbrush from certain wooded areas Another group progressed to the more time-consuming advanced companion crop fields method of gardening Also continuing from the ancient Indigenous people of the state they cultivated tobacco through to early historic times It was used in numerous social and religious rituals