Uneven Landscapes, Uneven Histories: Maroons in the American Historical Narrative

Summary

Throughout most of the Atlantic world, Maroons play a critical role in local, regional, and even national histories.  In contrast, marronage in colonial America and the early United States is largely absent from the American historical narrative.  Thousands of Maroons lived in The Great Dismal Swamp, located in Virginia and North Carolina, from the late 17th century until Emancipation. And, Maroons played a critical role in slowing US expansionism in Florida, once known as a refuge for escaped slaves. Yet, there exists little popular awareness or understanding of Maroon lives in these places.  Utilizing these two archaeological case studies, this paper explores where and how Maroon history might be integrated into existing historical and social narratives.  In particular, it considers uneven landscapes and ‘sites’ of interaction that can today be used to demonstrate the significance of marronage in the history of the United States.   

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2017   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2017

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 452