An Archaeological Appraisal of Early European Settlements in the Senegambia
An Archaeological Appraisal of Early European Settlements in the Senegambia
The data on early commercial European establishments in Senegal and the Gambia from 1488 to about 1800 are summarized, with particular attention focused on two of them: the French Fort St Joseph on the Senegal River, and the English factory at Yamyamacunda on the Gambia River. These data provide brief but useful histories of their construction and occupation, and each is evaluated for its archaeological potential. The excavation of these and other early settlements discussed should provide trade goods which will be useful in identifying and dating native villages which were contemporaneous with them, thus establishing firm chronological horizons and the identification of native cultural units. It would also provide the basis for permitting more accurate estimates of the rate and nature of the culture change in the historic tribal groups.
CITATION: Raymond Wood, W.. An Archaeological Appraisal of Early European Settlements in the Senegambia . : , 1967. Journal of African History Vol.8,no.1,1967,pp39-64 - Available at: https://library.au.int/archaeological-appraisal-early-european-settlements-senegambia-5