Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Recent archaeological excavations in Benin City, Nigeria, conducted prior to the construction of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), have revealed previously unexplored areas of the pre-colonial palace of the Kingdom of Benin.
A Benin Bronze plaque on display in the British Museum. Image credit: Michel wal – CC BY-SA 3.0
The team of researchers focused their work on two building plots and provided fresh insights into the Kingdom of Benin, an influential polity in the West African forest zone during the second millennium AD.
These perspectives invite us to reconsider and deepen our understanding of Benin’s historical significance , urban development, renowned artisanal traditions of this influential West African society, and cultural legacy.
Benin City once stood as the vibrant capital of the Kingdom of Benin, a powerful empire renowned for its far-reaching trade networks and remarkable artistry, most notably the celebrated Benin Bronzes.
Visitors from distant lands were often captivated by its sophistication and cultural achievements. Yet, this legacy faced a profound rupture in 1897 when British forces raided the city, destroying and looting the royal palace—the heart of Benin’s leadership under the Oba.
This event not only marked the end of an illustrious kingdom but also transformed Benin City into a symbol of colonial domination, leaving behind echoes of loss and resilience that continue to shape its story today. Modern Benin City evolves and new buildings are envisioned for the site of the historic palace. At the same time, it is crucial to find the balance between progress and preservation.
In anticipation of upcoming construction, a collaborative team from MOWAA, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), and the British Museum has begun excavating at this significant location—the first such effort in half a century. This initiative offers an important opportunity to reconnect with history even as the city moves forward. The MOWAA Institute, which is currently under construction, will serve as a facility for storing, conserving, and researching West African archaeology, including findings from this project.
Dr. Sam Nixon, the British Museum’s research lead on the project, explains that the archaeological work is paving the way for the MOWAA Institute and notes how uncommon it is to witness a new building and institution emerge directly from such efforts. He emphasizes that this initiative represents a significant development. The British Museum’s partnership is of great importance in supporting this project and expresses anticipation for continued collaboration in the future.
The researchers uncovered an archaeological sequence spanning from before the Benin Kingdom’s foundation to its fall and post-colonial development, establishing the most complete architectural sequence for Benin City to date and providing evidence of artisanal activity, including Benin’s renowned metalworking.
The researcherts recorded substantial building remains that were already earlier recorded in later phases (eighteenth/nineteenth century), and their arrangement on the same axis as earlier buildings. This indicates significant continuity of urban planning.
A building was also recorded in the Institute upper levels, likely part of the ‘wives’ quarter’. Access to this area would have been restricted by a substantial earth wall and timber gate. A large crater, originally 5m deep, dominated this area and may have been the source of material for walls and buildings.
Stratigraphy in Area 5: structural levels 1–7 (a–c) and work in progress (d–e) (figure by authors).
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Structural remains, features, and material culture reveal site functions and historic lifeways. One large building complex shows strong evidence of ritual activity, including arranged upturned pots, cowrie-shell caches in pots, and moulded chalk (nzu) arrangements, suggesting it was likely a major palace shrine. A pit contained over 100 gin and glass bottles with nineteenth-century trademarks like Africana, Van Hoytema, and Van Marken.
Their placement with giant snail shells and much iron further suggests the area served as a shrine.
Segun Opadeji, the archaeology lead for MOWAA, emphasizes the importance of balancing development with preservation. He explains that while infrastructure such as roads and houses is essential for progress, it is equally crucial to safeguard cultural heritage during these processes.
According to Opadeji, understanding and protecting the past is necessary to ensure that development and heritage are interconnected, allowing society to move forward without losing its historical roots. Additionally, the project offers significant opportunities to trace the city’s urban development and to deepen our understanding of the West African past, shedding light on architecture, artisanal practices, trade, diet, and more.
The project has supported the new MOWAA research institute by providing state-of-the-art equipment for archaeologists and training early-career researchers in Nigeria. It also conducts community outreach, including work with schools, to preserve West African heritage.
Reflecting on the project’s journey, Professor Caleb Folorunso, lead author and MOWAA research lead, observes that the envisioned outcome has always been central to MOWAA’s mission: establishing a center of excellence dedicated to heritage and its management.
He notes that this center is intended as a welcoming space for engagement, especially among individuals from West African countries. With the anticipated facilities in place, it will draw people from across Africa and empower researchers to carry out their work locally—eliminating the need to seek resources abroad for sample analysis.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
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