Waja

Fritz Biveridge
University of Ghana, Legon

Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Ghana.

P. O. Box 3. Legon, Ghana. West Africa.
E’mail: [email protected]

Mobile contact Number: 0269466443 / 0246788723.

Abstract of research
This research presents results of historical archaeological investigations conducted
at Forts Eliza Carthago and Ruychaver, two early fortifications / trade stations built
by the Dutch in the Western Region of Ghana to facilitate the exploitation and
export of gold from the Gold Coast. The objective of the study was twofold. The
first was to gauge from the material remains recovered at the two sites evidence
attesting to armed confrontations and second, establish if the two forts were
intentionally destroyed by the indigenous populations living nearby in the
subsequent conflagration following the confrontations. The archaeological
evidence, including totally burnt tobacco pipes, bones and several broken imported
Dutch bricks clearly corroborated historical sources which assert that the two forts
were fire razed to the ground. Data for the study was derived from archaeological
and historical investigations.