From the Prehistoric to the Hippie-era: An Archaeological and Historical Inventory of Peaceable Kingdom, Washington County, Texas

Summary

Peaceable Kingdom (PK) is a 250-acre property situated within the Brazos River drainage basin in Washington County, Texas. Initially part of land owned by one of Stephen F. Austin’s original 300 colonists, the property has experienced a unique and colorful history including an African-American freedom colony and a 1970's school for self-sufficient living. In the summer of 2012 the Texas Tech Archaeological Field School launched a full-scale pedestrian survey of PK in order to inventory all prehistoric and historic sites, as well as revisit previously documented sites. Evidence of prehistoric camp sites, probable slave quarters, a turn of the century homestead, post-emancipation African-American structures, and multiple tent platforms from the 1970's hippie-era were identified through ground surface survey, shovel testing, and metal detecting. The location, documentation, and function of many of these sites were determined through archaeological testing with the aid of archival research and oral-history interviews.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Your Possible Pasts: Challenges and Opportunities in Heritage Management   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 315