Hi yall. Swept yards are common in Arkansas contexts, both African-American and Euro-American, both in the classic Arkansas Delta and SW with high African-American population and influence, and in the Arkansas Ozarks where Af-Ams present but practice also associated with Euro-Ams. I always ask informants, and get answers including "some did sweep, some didn't", "we used to sweep to keep snakes away from house" (not ethnic-specific), "sweeping keeps the weeds down", and even something to the effect that sweeping makes a better background for yard art including tire planters and flower borders to walkways. I don't think we've actually tested a site yet where yard sweeping is known to have occurred. I've photod a number of swept yards in both rural and small-town contexts. And keep in mind that "sweeping" mostly seems some mighty skilled work with a hoe. I personally have thought about ripping up all the grass near my house just to keep from having to fight the grass--Arkansas is practically semi-tropical and the vegetation will win and suffocate us all. Hoes forever! Bye. Leslie C. Stewart-Abernathy Arkansas Archeological Survey Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR