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Abstract
The Eastern Agricultural Complex was an independent center of plant domestication in eastern North America that arose during the Late Archaic and Early Woodland periods. Eventually, the Eastern Agricultural Complex was largely replaced by the Three Sisters crop complex that originated in Central America, save for the use of squash and sunflower. The Pottsville Escarpment region of Eastern Kentucky, and especially the Red River drainage area, contains significant archaeological evidence of the Eastern Agricultural Complex. This thesis will detail the history of the Pottsville Escarpment region and the Eastern Agricultural Complex, and will outline several modes of interpreting this significant period in human history at the Red River Gorge Geological Area, including updating interpretive signage, creating a demonstration garden, and developing a contemporary foodways program.