Project Name: West Africa Trade Project (WATP)

Project Description: The West Africa Trade Project (WATP) was a research initiative launched in 1970 by Professor Merrick Posnansky at the Begho archaeological site in Hani. Its primary objective was to investigate the origins and impact of long-distance trade between Ghana and other regions of West Africa, particularly the middle Niger area. Additionally, the project provided opportunities for student training in field archaeology in Ghana, with financial support to encourage participation. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the University of Ghana, the Scholarship Secretariat of Ghana, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), the project spanned from 1970 to 1979. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, the team collected and analyzed archaeological, ethnographic, and oral data from Hani and its surrounding communities. The team conducted preliminary surface surveys and excavated six sub-settlements (quarters) within the Begho site. These included Brong (1970, 1972, 1975), Kramo (1971, 1979), Dwinfour (1972, 1975), Nyarko (1975), Dapaa (1975), Atwetwebooso, and Srede (1975). In addition, prehistoric sites such as Mumute and Bonoase were excavated between 1972 and 1974.

Research Year: 1970

Researcher(s): Merrick Posnansky

Publications: Posnansky, M. (2015). Begho: Life and Times. Journal of West African History, 95-118. Walz, J. R. & Posnansky, M. (2010). An Interview with Merrick Posnansky. The African Archaeological Review, 177-210

Site: Begho-Hani

Subsite: Mumute

Excavation Date: July 23, 1972

Excavation Duration: 48

GPS Coordinates: N/A

Excavation Procedure: Excavations at the Mumute site started in 1972 and ran till 1974. The Mumute site is situated southeast of Begho, near the headwaters of the Mumute Stream. It lies in an open grassland area with scattered small trees, except for the gallery forest lining the stream valley. In 1972, excavations were carried out in three areas: the main site, a stone square approximately 46 meters north of the main site and closer to the stream, and a cutting made following the discovery of a 'rasp' fragment, located a few meters south of the main site. A total of 26 excavation units were completed, including 20 two-meter squares and 6 half units. Most excavations reached the gravelly layer overlying the hard laterite bedrock.

Artifacts Recovered: Pottery, polished stone axes, stone 'rasps', grooved stones, stone bracelets, three (3) pieces of bones, and three (3) pieces of iron.

Site: Begho-Hani

Subsite: Brong Quarter (B2)

Excavation Date: July 23, 1972

Excavation Duration: 48

GPS Coordinates: N/A

Excavation Procedure: A 3m grid system was laid out and a total of 16 units were excavated. A metre wide trench, 19m long and divided into 7 units was cut across the site in an east-west direction to test the stratigraphy. The other 9 units were 2 m-square. The top soil was removed from all the units initially to ascertain the form of the collapsed structure.

Artifacts Recovered: Artifacts recovered include pottery (some 27,800 sherds characterized by burnishing and red slipping), 31 tobacco pipe fragments, 1,655 pieces of iron slag, 8 fragments of ivory objects, 14 pieces of copper alloy (including finger rings, wiro and parts of earrings), 21 glass beads, 1 triangular-shaped carnelian bead, a small rectangular piece of coloured glass, 5 spindle whorls, stone grinders, polishing stones, querns and 1,160 pieces of bone.

Site: Begho-Hani

Subsite: Dwinfour Quarter

Excavation Date: March 19, 1972

Excavation Duration: 19

GPS Coordinates: N/A

Excavation Procedure: A 3m grid was laid out over a wide and five 2-metre square units excavated.

Artifacts Recovered: The site was singularly poor in finds and no burials were found. A cistern 3.60m deep, slightly bolling out towards the bottom and with eleven well-cut toeholds were associated with the house excavated. Pottery was discovered along with few beads and one piece of drain pipe.