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