Bunce Island: A British Slave Castle in Sierra Leone July 29, 2009—February 28, 2010 In the days of the transatlantic slave trade, many African captives last left Africa by passing through “slave castles” on the continent’s west coast. Discover the inner workings of the Bunce Island castle of Sierra Leone, and learn how some African-Americans today are tracing their ancestry back to this site. View reconstructions, photographs, and reproduced drawings of Bunce Island, which served as a “warehouse of humanity” from 1670 through the end of the British slave trade in 1807. Learn how British companies worked with local African chiefdoms to operate this horrific but immensely profitable enterprise. Then, follow the poignant pilgrimages that Americans have recently made to this island in search of their ancestors. Discover the efforts to preserve this site, which is almost reclaimed by jungle but still has powerful stories to tell—now on display at The Field Museum. This exhibition was curated by Joseph A. Opala, James Madison University. The Marae Gallery is sponsored by: Presentation of this exhibition at The Field Museum is made possible by curator Joseph A. Opala. Related Images To view a larger image, click on an image thumbnail.