Throughout the 19th century, thousands of enslaved Africans lived on Brazoria County plantations and worked the land and sugar mills. The story of plantation life is often told through its owners, and historical and archaeological research at these sites is needed to better approach the difficult and challenging narratives of enslaved people. The Texas Historical Commission, with participation by Rice University, is currently working to develop these sites into nationally significant cultural destinations that utilize the rich historical and archaeological records to document the role of African Americans in settling and developing Texas. Two plantations are included in the Texas State Historic Site where the research is occurring – Varner-Hogg Plantation and Levi Jordan Plantation.
In September 2021, the Mellon Sawyer seminar team visited these two plantations and had a meeting with the Texas Historical Commission at the Levi Jordan plantation.
For more information about Rice's Archaeology Project at Varner Hogg, see: Rice archaeologists’ new video series gives inside look at historic plantation site | Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University
For more information on the Levi Jordan plantation, see: Levi Jordan Plantation History | THC.Texas.gov - Texas Historical Commission
For more information on the Varner Hogg plantation, see: Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site | West Columbia, Texas | Texas Historical Commission | history and Digitally Mapping Varner-Hogg Plantation (arcgis.com)