Uncovering St. Croix: The Untold Story of Escaped Slave Communities

Christian Oldendorp, a Danish missionary, chronicled in 1767 that numerous escaped slaves had settled in the mountainous Maroon Hill on St. Croix, shielded by dense bush and their wariness. This account serves as a rare Danish record of Maronberg, a community of Maroons in the island's northwest mountains.Acquired by the Danish West India-Guinea Company in 1733, St. Croix expanded its sugar and cotton industries, consequently increasing the enslaved population. By the late 1700s, about 1,400 individuals, over 10% of the enslaved populace, successfully escaped. Understanding where they went has only recently gained attention among researchers.As an archaeologist focused on slavery and resistance, I recently collaborated with a team to locate Maronberg, where hundreds likely sought refuge from 1733 to 1848. Current challenges include pinpointing its physical remnants, which could significantly enhance our understanding of their lives while contributing to a heritage park established to honor their legacy.