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Archaeology of Slavery in East
Africa
Author: Kusimba
C.M.1
Source: African
Archaeological Review, June 2004, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 59-88(30)
Publisher: Kluwer
Academic Publishers
Abstract
African archaeology has primarily been concerned with precolonial Africa.
Consequently, the archaeology of colonial and postcolonial Africa has been
neglected, in spite of the fundamental importance of how Africa's
relationships with Eurasia after 1488 shaped its history. Although the slave
trade was an important aspect of post-sixteenth century experiences of
Africans, current research methodologies make the archaeology of slavery in
Africa nearly impossible because evidence of the slave trade or slavery -
including slave quarters, cemeteries, holding areas, shackles, and dungeons -
can be interpreted in various ways. In this article I argue that the
archaeology of slavery and the slave trade in Africa is possible. Like history
and economics, archaeology is well placed to investigate slavery in Africa as
it already does effectively in the Americas. Using the study of defensive rock
shelters in Southeast Kenya as an example, I propose that the systematic
archaeology of slavery in Africa is not only possible, but also should break
new grounds and develop an innovative methodology for studying slavery.
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