Maritime Archaeology and the Early Atlantic Trade: research at Elmina, Ghana

Abstract

This article details recent maritime archaeological research off the town of Elmina in coastal Ghana. Founded in 1482, Elmina Castle was the first and largest European outpost in sub‐Saharan West Africa, and remained a centre of maritime trade for almost four centuries. Survey and diver investigations led to the discovery of several sites, including a shipwreck dating to the mid 17th century, which is characterized by a mass of trade goods, cannon and buried hull remains. A second Dutch vessel dating to c.1700 was documented after its discovery during dredging operations in the Benya Lagoon adjacent to Elmina. These sites present an opportunity to study ships and cargoes involved in the West African trade.

Arqueología marítima y comercio atlántico temprano: investigación en elmina, ghana

Este artículo expone detalladamente la investigación reciente de arqueología marítima en Elmina en la Ghana costera. Fundado en 1482, el establecimiento fortificado de Elmina, fue el primer puesto de avanzada europeo en el África subsahariana occidental y permaneció como centro de comercio marítimo durante casi cuatro siglos. El sensoramiento remoto y la prospección con buzos llevaron al descubrimiento de varios sitios. Entre ellos un naufragio holandés que data de mediados del siglo XVII y se caracteriza por la abundancia de bienes comerciales, cañones y restos enterrados del casco. Un segundo naufragio holandés que data de c.1700 fue documentado tras ser descubierto durante las operaciones de dragado en la Laguna de Benya, adyacente a Elmina. Estos sitios ofrecen una oportunidad para estudiar embarcaciones y cargas involucradas en el comercio del África occidental.

Traducción: Ricardo Borrero, with thanks to the Honor Frost Foundation

Key words:

• Ghana
• West African trade
• shipwrecks
• remote sensing survey

Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Rachel Horlings, a beloved colleague, friend, and co‐director of maritime research in Ghana. Rachel was a true pioneer in this research, and her focus on site formation processes and expanding investigations to other areas of the coast were key elements in our work there. We tragically lost Rachel due to an electrical accident while she was completing fieldwork in Ghana in 2013.

We also want to acknowledge the late Papa Kofi Arhin of Elmina, who was our mentor, advisor, resource and most importantly, a dear friend. We are grateful to Christopher DeCorse, who went out on a limb to enable a few graduate students to accomplish the crazy goal of initiating maritime archaeology in Ghana, and build upon his research on culture contact in the region. We are grateful to the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board for the research permit to do this work. The National Science Foundation, The National Geographic Society, The Waitt Foundation, Syracuse University, Syracuse's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the Division of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of West Florida, and UWF's Faculty Scholarly and Creative Activity awards provided invaluable research funds and other assistance. Special thanks to the various crew members and others too numerous to name who provided support, advice, resources, time, and friendship, without which this research would not have happened.

Additional information

Funding

The National Science Foundation

The Waitt Foundation

Division of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of West Florida