Ghana has once again taken the center stage in the global spotlight following the revelation that the story of slavery in Africa traces back to this specific country.
Under the guidance of archaeologist Prof. Christopher DeCorse from Syracuse University in the United States, a team of archaeologists has successfully located the presumed site of the first English slave fort in Africa. This significant discovery is concealed beneath the ruins of Fort Amsterdam.
With meticulous expertise, the team has been diligently unearthing the remains of an older fort known as Kormantine, buried deep within the earth. Their dedicated efforts involve methodically sifting through distinct layers of soil as they unravel the long-lost history of this ancient structure, as reported by the BBC.
Amidst the ruins, the dedicated team of archaeologists is unearthing a treasure trove of historical artifacts, including gunflints utilized in old-fashioned guns, tobacco pipes, fragments of pottery, and even the jawbone of a goat. All these discoveries collectively attest to the existence of what is believed to be “the first English outpost established anywhere in Africa.”
The excitement among the researchers is palpable, as Prof. Christopher DeCorse passionately emphasizes that any archaeologist who claims not to be thrilled by such discoveries may not be entirely truthful. With this profound excitement, he announces this pivotal moment in history, shedding light on the involvement of Europeans in Africa during the era of the transatlantic slave trade. This groundbreaking revelation marks a significant step forward in our understanding of the past and the complex historical narratives shaping the African continent’s connection with the rest of the world.
The discovery by the team of archaeologists may shed some light on the lives of those early traders and what they were doing, as well as those who were sold and the impact on the community around them.
According to the report, the slave trade began in this location (Fort Kormantine) in 1663 when King Charles II granted a charter to the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa (later the Royal African Company). He gave it monopoly rights over the trade in human beings.
Twi years after, however, the Dutch seized the fort, but that has not taken away the fact that Fort Kormantine played a key role in the initial stages of the slave trade.
“We don’t have that many details on exactly what these early outposts of the slave trade looked like, which is one of the things that make uncovering the foundations of Fort Kormantine interesting,” Prof DeCorse added.