Dr. Christopher DeCorse is a professor of anthropology at Syracuse University. He works in historical archaeology, focusing on the impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade and colonialism in West Africa. His presentation at the October 20 Baraza, “European Forts; African Landscapes: West Africa during the Slave Trade,” was the Center for African Studies 26th Annual Distinguished Lecture in African Archaeology. He has published extensively on West African archaeology including: West Africa during the Atlantic Slave Trade: Archaeological Perspectives (editor, 2016); “Prelude to the Atlantic Trade: New Perspectives on Southern Ghana’s pre-Atlantic History (800-1500).” Journal of African History (co-author, 2010); An Archaeology of Elmina: Africans and Europeans on the Gold Coast, 1400-1900 (2001); “Documents, Oral Histories, and the Material Record: Historical Archaeology in West Africa.” World Archaeological Bulletin (1993); “Historical Archaeology in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review.” Historical Archaeology (co-author, 1986).
Dr. DeCorse’s lecture discussed the importance of archaeology in understanding West African history and regional development before, during and, after the Atlantic Slave Trade. Research in historical archaeology, like the work of Dr. DeCorse, attempts to elaborate on and dispel misconceptions about the role of Africa in the Atlantic world. West African trade networks were present long before the Atlantic Slave Trade or the establishment of European trade forts. The material record confirms this, for example Egyptian glass has been found in Mali, and North African brassware has been found in Ghana. Materials produced in West Africa prior to the Atlantic Slave Trade were also more complex than they have previously been given credit for—communities practiced brass casting, iron production, and the creation of earthworks. Dr. DeCorse also discussed previous misconceptions about settlement densities in West Africa; in fact many areas had higher settlement densities prior to Atlantic Trade.
Dr. DeCorse has extensively researched multiple trade forts in West Africa including Elmina and Cape Coast Castles in Ghana. Archaeologists use structures such as European trade forts and castles to understand social, political, and economic networks present in historical West Africa. Dr. DeCorse considers how varied patterns of change have affected the landscapes of West Africa during and prior to the Atlantic Slave Trade. Variation can also be seen in how communities engaged with the Atlantic system. Dr. DeCorse attempts to work with limited documentary and oral history data to elaborate on these experiences.