Native Americans used Dunbar Cave in different ways over more than 12,000 years, living in it, storing goods in it, mining minerals from it, and entering it on spiritual journeys. Artifacts found in an archaeological dig in 1978 and cave art show how it was used during four periods. During the Paleo period, from 10,000 to 8,000 BC, bands of hunter-gatherers used the cave entrance as a temporary shelter and camp. During the Archaic period, from 8,000 to 1,000 BC, the cave was heavily used for shelter as well as food preparation and storage, and most of the artifacts found by archaeologists come from this period. During the Woodland period, from 1,000 BC to 800 AD, the introduction of agriculture drew people into the nearby Red and Cumberland river bottoms for crop production and habitation, and use of the cave was minimal. During the Mississippian period, from 800 to 1450 AD, caves became an important part of Mississippian culture, Native Americans drew religious symbols inside Dunbar Cave, and the cave was also used occasionally for habitation.