Antioch Colony and the Archaeology of Texas Freedmen Descendants

Summary

In the aftermath of the Civil War, a small group of black families founded Antioch Colony in rural Hays County, TX. This enclave of kin-related households rapidly became a beacon for other emancipated blacks who were drawn to the colony’s church and school. The settlement’s growth and stability hinged upon the success of farming households to work together, stay out of debt, and retain their hard-earned land. Archaeological and oral history research focused on the descendants of these pioneering families has revealed the significant role that the household economy played in enabling them to not only endure, but to ensure that the second generation had better lives and opportunities for advancement. This paper considers the results of recent excavations of domestic sites at this Texas freedom colony and what the evidence reveals about the social and economic practices of black households from circa 1900-1960.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2018   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 308