Bunce Island, in Sierra Leone, was a British slave trading post in the 18th century. From its shores, tens of thousands of Africans were forcefully shipped to the American colonies.
The history of Bunce Island —
Bunce Island, in Sierra Leone, was a British slave trading post in the 18th century. From its shores, tens of thousands of Africans were forcefully shipped to the American colonies.
Matthew Oldfield
Abandoned in the mid-1800s, it is one of the most authentic slave trading facilities still in existence. Unlike other slave trading posts, nothing was ever built on Bunce Island once slavery was abolished.
The history of Bunce Island —
Abandoned in the mid-1800s, it is one of the most authentic slave trading facilities still in existence. Unlike other slave trading posts, nothing was ever built on Bunce Island once slavery was abolished.
Matthew Oldfield
Historian Joseph Opala says that when the human cargo was loaded onto the ships, the slave traders took off the ballast they'd brought from England -- pebbles of English flint that are still scattered all over the island's shores. "If you put it in your hand and weigh it, you can feel the weight of the human beings put on the ship, as these items were thrown off," says Opala.
The history of Bunce Island —
Historian Joseph Opala says that when the human cargo was loaded onto the ships, the slave traders took off the ballast they'd brought from England -- pebbles of English flint that are still scattered all over the island's shores. "If you put it in your hand and weigh it, you can feel the weight of the human beings put on the ship, as these items were thrown off," says Opala.
Matthew Oldfield
"The wall here is about 16 feet and it goes down almost to 40 feet as the land drops," says Opala. "But if you had come here during the dry season months, say in the 1750s, you would have seen this whole area filled with people."
The history of Bunce Island —
"The wall here is about 16 feet and it goes down almost to 40 feet as the land drops," says Opala. "But if you had come here during the dry season months, say in the 1750s, you would have seen this whole area filled with people."
Matthew Oldfield
A gravestone of a ship's captain in the island's European graveyard.
The history of Bunce Island —
A gravestone of a ship's captain in the island's European graveyard.
Matthew Oldfield
A cannon with the crest of King George III found on Bunce Island.
The history of Bunce Island —
A cannon with the crest of King George III found on Bunce Island.
Matthew Oldfield
A group of historians and archaelogists have come together to turn the uninhabited island into a national landmark that can be appreciated for its historical value.
The history of Bunce Island —
A group of historians and archaelogists have come together to turn the uninhabited island into a national landmark that can be appreciated for its historical value.
Matthew Oldfield
The Bunce Island Coalition has launched a $5 million project to conserve the island's structure and also build a museum in Freetown as part of efforts to shed light on the island's dark past.
The history of Bunce Island —
The Bunce Island Coalition has launched a $5 million project to conserve the island's structure and also build a museum in Freetown as part of efforts to shed light on the island's dark past.
Matthew Oldfield