The Woodland Period began with the local development of agriculture sometime around 1000 BC; it is considered to have lasted until English and European contact in the 17th century. Peoples during this period had adopted agriculture as well as slash-and-burn practices. They also adopted ceramic pottery, began to use the atlatl, and had a culture that would have been recognisable to European colonists. The development of agriculture supported an increase in population and the development of more permanent settlements. During the later stages of the period, pottery styles became influenced by Iroquois pottery styles (based in central New York) and the bow and arrow were also adopted.