During the Early Archaic period (8000-6000 B.C.), the climate became milder, which contributed to the extinction of mammoths, mastodons, and several other animals. People shifted from hunting large animals to hunting deer and small mammals and gathering plant foods like nuts, berries, and seeds. People traveled less and adapted to local environments. Projectile points were made of local flints from places such as the Kanawha River and Hughes River. Deer became a major food source in this region, making up 70-90% of the people's diet. A key site from this time is the St. Albans Site on the Kanawha River.

In the Middle Archaic period (6000-3000 B.C.), people continued hunting and gathering but started using ground stone tools such as grooved axes and nutting stones. There was also an increase in plant food use. Several regional styles of projectile points appeared, and people used atlatls (spear throwers). The Glasgow Site on the Kanawha River is important from this time period.

During the Late Archaic period (3000-1000 B.C.), the population grew, and societies became more complex. Some plants, like squash and lambs-quarters, were domesticated. Distinct cultural groups formed in different areas. The Buffalo Archaic in southern West Virginia and the Panhandle Archaic in the north are key groups. A "Transitional Archaic" period from 2000-1000 B.C. shows connections to eastern areas where Steatite (soapstone) was found. Bowls carved out of steatite from the eastern slopes of the Allegheny Mountains begin to appear in the Kanawha Valley and northern West Virginia. Soon after, similar bowls are being carved out of local sandstone.