Protecting the Past at James Island: The Complexity of Heritage Conservation at a Slave Trading Site in The Gambia

The archaeological and cultural resources on James Island play an important
role in understanding the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and known for being the place where Alex
Hailey conducted research for Roots: the Saga of an American Family, this
area captivates the interests of many tourists, local stakeholders, and international
development institutions. Visitors and students routinely come to see
the ruins of Fort James, a slave-trading fort on the island. Local community
members search for new opportunities to establish businesses for tourism
and Gambian stakeholders vie for control over the management of the area.

Despite gaining much attention, the ruins on James Island are rapidly deteriorating
and the island is eroding due to destructive tides. In addition, inconsistent
financial support and various conservation responses have impacted
the integrity of the archaeological resources. In response to these
challenges, various individuals and institutions have established collaborative
partnerships, reviewed and revised management strategies, and
launched research projects that incorporate conservation initiatives. Reflecting
on some of the difficulties and successes of different programs designed
to preserve the legacy of James Island, this paper will present the benefits of
GIS and 3D modeling as tools for protecting the past. This paper will also
discuss the results from the 2009 and 2010 archaeological field seasons in
order to demonstrate how visual documentation can aid archaeological interpretation
and African cultural resource management.