Abstract
This paper discusses the historical archaeology of migration in the American Southwest. I raise three points for consideration. First, the archaeology of migration in the Southwest following Spanish colonialism has been relatively absent, but is a rich area of inquiry for historical archaeologists. Second, migration has shaped the regional consciousness, landscape, and myth-making of the historic Southwest in significant ways that merit archaeological attention. Finally, drawing on the example of Alsatian migration to Texas, I propose that an attention to scale – how migrations occur alongside and within other movements – can add nuance to historical narratives of the West by highlighting the great diversity that characterizes the region throughout the historic period.
Este artículo discute la arqueología histórica de la migración en el suroeste americano. Planteo tres puntos para su consideración. Primero, la arqueología de la migración en el Suroeste después del colonialismo español ha estado relativamente carente, pero es un área rica de investigación para los arqueólogos históricos. En segundo lugar, la migración ha moldeado la conciencia regional, el paisaje, y los mitos del suroeste histórico de formas significativas que merecen atención arqueológica. Finalmente, utilizando un ejemplo de la migración alsaciana a Texas, propongo que la atención a escala de la migración puede complicar narrativas históricas de Oeste americano al mostrando la gran diversidad que caracteriza a la región a través de su historia.
Acknowledgments
My work in Castroville and D’Hanis has been conducted with the generous support of the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the National Geographic Society, and the Council of Texas Archeologists. I would like to thank my dissertation advisor Dr. Ruth Van Dyke, whose community archaeology work in Castroville made this possible, and committee members Dr. Randy McGuire and Dr. Sabina Perrino. I am grateful to the Castro Colonies Heritage Association for their help and support and to my crew, Hunter Crosby, Nolan O’Hara, and Emily Sainz, who helped conduct the archaeology in D’Hanis. Many thanks to Emily Dale and my reviewers for comments on this manuscript. And of course, my most heartfelt gratitude to the communities of Castroville, D’Hanis, and Medina County, who have been incredible partners in this work.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
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Funding
This work was supported by the National Geographic Society [grant number EC-402R-18]; Council of Texas Archeologists [grant number N/A]; Wenner-Gren Foundation [grant number Gr. 9706].
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