Historical Archaeology of Bagamoyo

Excavations at the Caravan-Serai

The modern history of Bagamoyo begins with the period 1830-1840, when Zanzibar was established as the capital of the Oman Sultanate and subsequently, the slave and ivory trades intensified. However trade and cultural interactions between the coast and the interior had existed before 1800. In 2001, archaeological works began for the first time at caravan-serai in the Bagamoyo historical area. The reasons for the excavation were to provide knowledge about the background and function of the site as a depository for slaves.

This publication presents the results and findings of the excavation. It intends to pave the way for further research on slavery in Tanzania, in the context of slavery in Africa.

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