After the oppression of slavery and the frustration of sharecropping, settling on new homesteads seemed like one the most promising options for African-Americans in the late nineteenth century. Settlements like Nicodemus in Kansas became flourishing hubs of black life in the West.
The allure of such homesteads was what brought settlers to the area known as “The Dry.” However, the promise of land did not make for an easy existence. Arriving at the Dry as a young girl, Rolan Craig recalled “there were no trees, I felt like crying.” With extensive irrigation, the settlement survived from around 1916 until the 1930’s. The collapse of dams prompted more and more farmers to move out the area, and the arrival of the Dust Bowl effectively demolished the prospect of agriculture at the Dry.
Today, the legacy of these black settler in Southeastern Colorado is buried — both physically in the soil and in historical memory. Through archaeological excavation we hope to learn more about the lives of these settlers and engage the community in heritage building.
Avalon Archaeology
History Colorado State Historical Fund
University of Denver
Archaeological Institute of America – Denver Society
#1 by Louise on July 26, 2011 - 9:10 pm
What a fascinating site! Looking forward to reading more updates from the field!