great dismal swamp great dismal swamp freed escaped slaves inhabited great dismal swamp virginia north_carolina conditions harsh research suggests thousands lived 1860s told people story novel tale great dismal swamp significant research settlements began project location great dismal swamp spans area southeastern virginia northeastern north_carolina near norfolk virginia near north_carolina swamp estimated originally million acres km2 human destroyed today thousand acres km2 history african slaves brought british colonies virginia came dutch ship time slaves treated similarly servants free passage certain period time gained freedom converting christianity english time typically christians slave labor efforts drain log great dismal swamp 18th 19th centuries escaped slaves living freedom came known origin term uncertain competing theories linking spanish root words runaway slaves isolated hidden settlements existed southern states swamp based communities existed alabama florida georgia louisiana south_carolina largely limited virginia great dismal swamp beginning 18th century came live great dismal swamp settled islands high dry parts swamp inhabitants included slaves purchased freedom escaped slaves escaped slaves swamp route underground railroad way north slaves lived semi free conditions independence slaves actually enjoyed topic debate nearby whites left enslaved long paid logs businesses ignored fugitive nature escaped slaves provided work exchange trade goods stated present limits united_states likely thousand descendants lived great dismal swamp trading white people outside swamp results study published political economy exile great dismal swamp thousands people lived swamp native americans enslaved laborers canal study speculated thousands lived swamp precise number lived swamp time unknown believed largest colonies united_states established thousand living 19th century fear slave unrest fugitive slaves living population caused concern local whites militia dogs went swamp attempt remove destroy community people escaped north_carolina passed law specifically aimed swamp unlike communities local militias captured residents destroyed homes great dismal swamp avoided capture discovery homes little known native american activity area prior presence hunting indicates area served hunting ground far years ago native american communities existence swamp began settle leaving area inevitably lead recapture inhabitants readily available swamp recycling tool remnants left native americans possessions small artifacts recovered given historians little insight day day lives date excavation find human remains according historical archaeologist led research swamp possible water bones left born escaped slaves lived swamp entire lives despite hardships swamp life dense insects poisonous snakes bears difficult conditions swamp ideal hiding place escaped slaves free blacks slaves worked swamp canals native americans whites criminals known interacted slaves poor whites obtain work food clothes money fugitive slaves plundered nearby farms plantations stole anchored boats robbed travelers nearby roads caught tried murder theft communities set near dismal swamp canal built operation interacted outside world lived swamp interior contact outsiders canal construction began took jobs canal increased contact outside world people living swamp eventually moved away american civil war entered swamp liberate people joined union_army remained swamp left civil war research great dismal swamp landscape study began led historical archaeologist conducted excavation swamp partnership manages great dismal swamp national wildlife refuge initiated annual research program titled effort continues work landscape study examines impact slavery development swamp especially self sustaining settlements swamp interior studies native lifestyles european contact prior efforts field research great dismal swamp today swamp places research group gave lost way times sites deep swamp interior remote guide needed find gave people award project fall permanent exhibit opened national_park_service commemorate lived swamp pre civil war times groups inspirational details increasingly able people ability individuals communities control lives oppressive conditions
Great Dismal Swamp maroons