1 - Conscientious Achievements of the Dangme before the Atlantic Contact: Insights from Archaeological and Ethnohistorical Investigations at Sega and Kpone, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Corresponding Author(s) : Fritz Biveridge
Afrika Zamani,
No. 26 (2018): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
This article summarizes results of archaeological research conducted at Sega and Kpone, two ancient Dangme settlements located along the Gulf of Guinea in Ghana. Ethno-historical narratives and written records constituted other data sources used. The objective of the study was to utilize data from the above sources to deepen and enhance our understanding of ancient cultural life-ways of the settlers of the two sites before their encounter with Europeans. The combined evidence indicated that the settlement population was relatively large and sophisticated, attested by the extensive occupational areas and the existence of several specialist vocations. Another significant development was that the indigenous populations were engaged in complex intra-regional exchanges with neighbouring polities which impacted positively on the local economy and appears to have facilitated urbanization and state formation processes.
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- Anquandah, J., 1982, Rediscovering Ghana’s Past, London: Longman Group.
- Anquandah, J., 1985, Ethno Archaeological Clues to Ghana’s Past and Greater Future?
- Monograph and Papers in African Archaeology. No. 2, University of Ghana, Legon.
- Anquandah, J., 1993, ‘Urbanization and State Formation in Ghana during the Iron Age’, in T. Shaw, P. Sinclair, B. Andah and A. Okpoko, (Eds). The Archaeology of Africa – Food, Metals and Towns, London: Routledge.
- Anquandah, J., 1996, Accra Plains Dangmeland: A Case Study in the Eclectic Approach to Archaeological and Historical Studies, FASS Bulletin.
- Anquandah, J., 2003a, ‘Traditional herbal medicine’, The Mirror, 25 January, No. 2512, Accra.
- Anquandah, J., 2003b, ‘Traditional herbal medicine’, The Mirror, 1 February, No. 2513, Accra.
- Barbot, J., 1732. A Description of the Coast of North and South Guinea, London: Churchills Collection of Voyages and Travels.
- Barbot, J., 1992, Barbot on Guinea: The Writings of Jean Barbot on West Africa. 1678–1712, translated and edited by P.E.H. Hair, A. Jones and R. Law, London: Hakluyt Society.
- Biveridge, F., 2005, ‘An Archaeological Investigation of the Kpone Coastline and Its Implications for Understanding the Coastal Dangme’, unpublished MPhil thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.
- Biveridge, F., 2011, ‘A study of ancient subsistence strategies of the coastal Dangbe of Ghana: an archaeological perspective’, West African Journal of Archaeology 40 (1 & 2): 49–73.
- Biveridge, F., 2014. ‘The archaeology of Sega: an abandoned Dangbe settlement’, Studies in the African Past 8: 38–64.
- Boahen, A.A., 1977, ‘Ghana before the coming of Europeans’, Ghana Social Science Journal 4 (1) (May).
- Bosman, W., 1705, Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea, London: Frank Cass.
- Certificate of Authentication No. 000372, 1972, Kpone Traditional Council Affairs (Public Records and Archives Administration Department), Accra.
- Dickson K. B. and Benneh K. 1982. A New Geography of Ghana. London. Longman. Field, M., 1961, Religion and Medicine of the Ga People, London: Oxford University Press.
- Fowler, H.W., 1986, ‘The marine fishes of West Africa’, Bulletin of the American Museum of National History LXX. Pt. 1 & 11.
- Garrard, T.I., 1980, Akan Weights and the Gold Coast, London: Longman Group. Kesse, G.O., 1985. The Mineral and Rock Resources of Ghana, Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema Publishers.
- Kpone Traditional Affairs C.S.O. 21/22/1421, 1985, Kpone Traditional Council, Kpone.
- Kropp-Dakubu, M.E., 1976, ‘The Contribution of Linguistics to the Study of Gha- naian History’, in J.O. Hunwick, ed., Proceedings of the Seminar on Ghanaian Historiography and Historical Research, 20–22 May.
- Kwei, E.A. and Adu, D.W., 2005, Fishes in the Coastal Waters of Ghana, Accra: Ronna Publishers.
- Marees, P. de, 1601, A Description and Historical Declaration of the Golden Kingdom of Guinea, Glasgow.
- Meredith, H., 1812, An Account of the Gold Coast of Guinea, London: Frank Cass.
- Odotei, I., 1976, ‘The Ga-Adangbe’, in J.O. Hunwick, ed., Proceedings of the Semi- nar on Ghanaian Historiography and Historical Research, Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon, 20–22 May.
- Omenyo, C.N., 2001, The On-going Encounter between Christianity and African Traditional Culture: A Case Study of Girls Nubility Rites of the Krobo, Accra: Adwensa Publishers.
- Pereira, D.P., 1967 [reprint], Esmeraldo de Situ orbis, translated by G.H. Kimble, Nenden, Liechtenstein: Kraus.
- Quaye, I., 1972, ‘The Ga and their Neighbours: 1600–1742’, unpublished PhD thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.
- Reindorf, C.C, 1966, The History of the Gold Coast and Ashantee, Accra: Ghana Universities Press. Survey Department Sheet No. 05000 A3, 2000.
References
Anquandah, J., 1982, Rediscovering Ghana’s Past, London: Longman Group.
Anquandah, J., 1985, Ethno Archaeological Clues to Ghana’s Past and Greater Future?
Monograph and Papers in African Archaeology. No. 2, University of Ghana, Legon.
Anquandah, J., 1993, ‘Urbanization and State Formation in Ghana during the Iron Age’, in T. Shaw, P. Sinclair, B. Andah and A. Okpoko, (Eds). The Archaeology of Africa – Food, Metals and Towns, London: Routledge.
Anquandah, J., 1996, Accra Plains Dangmeland: A Case Study in the Eclectic Approach to Archaeological and Historical Studies, FASS Bulletin.
Anquandah, J., 2003a, ‘Traditional herbal medicine’, The Mirror, 25 January, No. 2512, Accra.
Anquandah, J., 2003b, ‘Traditional herbal medicine’, The Mirror, 1 February, No. 2513, Accra.
Barbot, J., 1732. A Description of the Coast of North and South Guinea, London: Churchills Collection of Voyages and Travels.
Barbot, J., 1992, Barbot on Guinea: The Writings of Jean Barbot on West Africa. 1678–1712, translated and edited by P.E.H. Hair, A. Jones and R. Law, London: Hakluyt Society.
Biveridge, F., 2005, ‘An Archaeological Investigation of the Kpone Coastline and Its Implications for Understanding the Coastal Dangme’, unpublished MPhil thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.
Biveridge, F., 2011, ‘A study of ancient subsistence strategies of the coastal Dangbe of Ghana: an archaeological perspective’, West African Journal of Archaeology 40 (1 & 2): 49–73.
Biveridge, F., 2014. ‘The archaeology of Sega: an abandoned Dangbe settlement’, Studies in the African Past 8: 38–64.
Boahen, A.A., 1977, ‘Ghana before the coming of Europeans’, Ghana Social Science Journal 4 (1) (May).
Bosman, W., 1705, Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea, London: Frank Cass.
Certificate of Authentication No. 000372, 1972, Kpone Traditional Council Affairs (Public Records and Archives Administration Department), Accra.
Dickson K. B. and Benneh K. 1982. A New Geography of Ghana. London. Longman. Field, M., 1961, Religion and Medicine of the Ga People, London: Oxford University Press.
Fowler, H.W., 1986, ‘The marine fishes of West Africa’, Bulletin of the American Museum of National History LXX. Pt. 1 & 11.
Garrard, T.I., 1980, Akan Weights and the Gold Coast, London: Longman Group. Kesse, G.O., 1985. The Mineral and Rock Resources of Ghana, Rotterdam: A.A. Balkema Publishers.
Kpone Traditional Affairs C.S.O. 21/22/1421, 1985, Kpone Traditional Council, Kpone.
Kropp-Dakubu, M.E., 1976, ‘The Contribution of Linguistics to the Study of Gha- naian History’, in J.O. Hunwick, ed., Proceedings of the Seminar on Ghanaian Historiography and Historical Research, 20–22 May.
Kwei, E.A. and Adu, D.W., 2005, Fishes in the Coastal Waters of Ghana, Accra: Ronna Publishers.
Marees, P. de, 1601, A Description and Historical Declaration of the Golden Kingdom of Guinea, Glasgow.
Meredith, H., 1812, An Account of the Gold Coast of Guinea, London: Frank Cass.
Odotei, I., 1976, ‘The Ga-Adangbe’, in J.O. Hunwick, ed., Proceedings of the Semi- nar on Ghanaian Historiography and Historical Research, Department of History, University of Ghana, Legon, 20–22 May.
Omenyo, C.N., 2001, The On-going Encounter between Christianity and African Traditional Culture: A Case Study of Girls Nubility Rites of the Krobo, Accra: Adwensa Publishers.
Pereira, D.P., 1967 [reprint], Esmeraldo de Situ orbis, translated by G.H. Kimble, Nenden, Liechtenstein: Kraus.
Quaye, I., 1972, ‘The Ga and their Neighbours: 1600–1742’, unpublished PhD thesis, University of Ghana, Legon.
Reindorf, C.C, 1966, The History of the Gold Coast and Ashantee, Accra: Ghana Universities Press. Survey Department Sheet No. 05000 A3, 2000.