My family were all farmers and ranchers out in Concho Co. When I was a little kid in the 70s the family would get together for a BBQ, usually on Labor day. What was meant by BBQ was to go drag a goat from the pens and hang him upside down in the killing tree and cut his throat, skin him and let him bleed out while a big mesquite fire was burning down to coals. Mesquite was the only hardwood out there. Then the goat was seasoned with salt and pepper and placed in the big metal pit with coals directly under the meat. 8 hours or so later it was chow time with all the country fixins.
My 86 yo dad is going cook one this Labor day, per tradition. His grandad used to cook for the big Millersview Veteran's Day shindig back when it was called Armistice Day starting in 1918. Before welders were common so they would dig big trenches and fill them with mesquite coals and cover them with net fence for a grill. They would usually butcher a fat steer for that. I need to ask my dad if he know where those pictures are.