A momentous discovery has been made along Ghana’s coastline, potentially pinpointing the exact location of what could be the first English slave fort in Africa. Archaeologists are excitedly unearthing rare artifacts from the ruins of Fort Amsterdam, which are believed to be the remnants of an older fort called Kormantine, lost for centuries under the earth.
Led by Professor Christopher DeCorse from Syracuse University in the US, the team of archaeologists is meticulously sifting through layers of soil and stones with soft-bristle brushes and trowels. Among the uncovered artifacts are a gunflint, tobacco pipes, broken pottery, and the jawbone of a goat, providing invaluable clues to a lost past.
Fort Kormantine, dating back to the 17th century, was situated on the Atlantic coast when European interests shifted from gold to human trade. It was a pivotal moment in the history of Africa’s involvement with the outside world and had a profound impact on the continent.
The fort initially served as a trading post for gold and other commodities. However, in 1663, King Charles II granted a charter to the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa, giving them a monopoly over the trade in human beings. Fort Kormantine became a crucial location in the early stages of the transatlantic slave trade, serving as a warehouse for goods used to purchase slaves and a brief holding point for those kidnapped in West Africa.
Unearthing Fort Kormantine’s foundations offers unique insights into the early outposts of the slave trade, as little is known about their appearance. The archaeologists have discovered a six-meter-long wall, a door post, foundations, and a red brick drainage system, indicating the English presence predating the Dutch fort built on the same site.
The artifacts, such as the rusty gunflint and tobacco pipes, provide evidence of the period and the practices of the English occupants. The discovery of the goat jawbone suggests how the English might have domesticated local animals for an alternative protein source.
The excavation of Fort Kormantine’s architecture and significance is an ongoing project that will continue for the next three years. This groundbreaking discovery sheds light on a significant historical chapter and the impact of European exploitation and cruelty in Ghana’s coastal fishing towns.
