Maritime Archaeology of the Slave Trade: Past, present and future perspectives: PANAF 2026 [Conference Session]

Register and learn more about the conference at the PANAF 2026 Website

The Slave Wrecks Project will host the panel ” Maritime Archaeology of the Slave Trade: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives” at the Pan-African Archaeological Association Conference, “Discovering African Archaeology and Heritage Without Borders,” in July 2026.

Session Description

“This session will provide a critical synopsis of recent–and potential–contributions of maritime archaeology to the history of the African slave trade, discussing questions, methods, and theoretical approaches through which maritime archaeology might contribute to African and global historiographies from the 15th century onward. Drawing upon ongoing archaeological research carried out across multiple sites, we propose strategies for developing a maritime archaeology devoted to recovering a fuller history of the slave trade–both as it was experienced by enslaved Africans and as a process that fundamentally shaped the modern world. We also consider how the maritime archeology of the slave trade can critically engage with the enduring legacies of this past in the present by fostering multiple forms of diversity, by centering stakeholder engagement and public education, by pursuing new models for heritage conservation and protection, and that challenges maritime archeology itself to re-consider its long neglect of this past and to rethink its role and its responsibilities in the present.” – Session Abstract

Conference Overview

“…[The PanAfrican Archaeological Association (PAA)] belongs to all who work in African archaeology, history, and related disciplines. PAA is a non-profit organization, staffed by volunteers who work in the interests of all.

Every four years, members of the PAA convene for the Pan-African Congress for Prehistory and Related Studies. PanAf 2026… will be hosted by the University of Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, Mozambique. Organized by the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from July 26 to 31, 2026, Mozambique will have the distinct honor of being the first Lusophone African country to host this historic conference.

PanAf 2026’s theme, “Discovering African Archaeology and Heritage Without Borders,” asks scholars to consider the common challenges and opportunities faced by all those interested in studying and presenting the African past. Scholars globally face various challenges when considering, designing, and implementing their research projects across two or more neighboring African countries.”- PANAF 2026

Organizers

• Cezar Mahumane,
• Steve Lubkeman,
• Celso Simbine,
• Gabrielle Miller