Chronicle | Digging for Slaves

This programme provides an overview of recent excavations in North Carolina and Virginia that have attempted to uncover slave quarters on plantations. These digs have shown that the slaves brought agricultural techniques and traditional crafts from West Africa, some of which are still practised today. The finds reveal how innovative the African slaves were and highlight the ways in which they coped with the horrors of captivity.

The International Slavery Museum in Liverpool was opened in 2007 to mark the 200th anniversary of the end of the slave trade. Despite many enduring local myths, slaves were not actually bought and sold in Liverpool, although many businessmen profited from the trade. In fact, manufactured goods would leave Liverpool and be sold in West Africa in exchange for slaves. The slaves would then be transported across the Atlantic and sold to plantation owners in America. Finally, the ships would collect raw materials such as cotton and return to Liverpool.