Maritime archaeology of slave ships: reviews and future directions for Mauritius and the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Ships were essential for mobility during the colonial period, simultaneously serving as the mechanism of cultural exchange. The study of the artefacts recovered from shipwrecks provides valuable information on life at sea, relationships on-board, how captives endured their transformative voyages and how the trade in forced labour was enacted by colonial administrations. Despite this potential wealth of information, the complexities and expense associated with underwater archaeological research have formed a barrier to the exploration of wrecks used to transport enslaved peoples. However, a number of East African nations have now started initiatives not only to correct the paucity of research on slave trade shipwrecks, but also to protect their underwater cultural heritage. Among these countries, Mauritius has a particularly important prospect for maritime archaeological exploration. The presence of over 1200 wrecks demonstrates the considerable potential of the island’s maritime heritage. Especially notable has been the work undertaken on the Coureur shipwreck, a lugger built in 1818 in Grand Port and sunk in 1821 with a cargo of some 100 illegal slaves from Zanzibar. The sinking of the Coureur marked the true ending of the slave trade in Mauritius and the wreck’s discovery in 2004 has led to new research into Mauritius’ illegal slave trade.

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