Materializing the Middle Passage: A Historical Archaeology of British Slave Shipping, 1680-1807

Between 1680 and 1807, around 2.7 million Africans were compelled to make the Middle Passage on British slave ships. This book uses a multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct British slave ships and examine their changes over time. It also explores the reception of slave ships and their trade goods in coastal West Africa and the experiences of captives and crews during the Middle Passage. The book argues that the African Middle Passage experience remains elusive and considers why it was remembered by saltwater captives in the Caribbean and North America.

Format: Hardback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Between 1680 and 1807, an estimated 2.7 million Africans were compelled to undertake the treacherous Atlantic crossing on British slave ships, a journey that has come to be known as the Middle Passage. This captivating book delves into the slave ship itself, recognizing it as the largest artifact of the Transatlantic slave trade. However, due to the limited number of wrecked slaving vessels discovered at sea, the slave ship has received relatively little scholarly attention. In Materializing the Middle Passage: A Historical Archaeology of British Slave Shipping, 1680-1807, the author challenges this notion by proposing alternative approaches for archaeologists to materialize the slave ship. Through a pioneering interdisciplinary methodology, the book combines primary documentary sources, maritime and terrestrial archaeology, paintings, maritime and ethnographic museum collections, and numerous other sources to meticulously reconstruct British slaving vessels and trace their evolution over time.

The book then explores the reception of the slave ship and its trade goods in coastal West Africa, shedding light on the diverse range of African resources that entered Britain on returning slave ships, including ivory, gold, and live animals. The third section of the book focuses on the Middle Passage experiences of both captives and crews, emphasizing the need to pay greater attention to the coping mechanisms employed by Africans to survive and challenge their captors.

In conclusion, Jane Webster's book offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the African Middle Passage experience. Through its rich illustrations and theoretical framework, it provides a deeper understanding of this significant chapter in human history. By examining the slave ship, its trade goods, the experiences of captives and crews, and the enduring legacy of the Middle Passage, the book contributes to our collective knowledge and appreciation of this tragic period.

Weight: 1236g
Dimension: 182 x 254 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780199214594