Prof. Engmann leads archaeological excavation project… to discover Ghanaian heritage
A United States-based Ghanaian professor of archaeology, Rachel Ama Asaa Engmann is leading an archaeological excavation project to discover the true Ghanaian heritage.
The Christiansborg Archaeological Heritage Project started in 2014 by Prof. Engmann to, among other things, provide rich information about artefacts found at the archaeological site known as the Osu Castle.
According to her, the project with funding from the Mellon Foundation in New York, was to promote the country’s tourism, support and educate young people in the Osu community through archaeological works.
Prof. Engmann was speaking to the Ghanaian Times in an interview during a tour to inspect some of her projects being interpreted into mirrors to discuss the past and history of the Osu community in Accra on Friday.
She said some artefacts discovered which included broken pots, smoking pipes, water bottles, beads, cowries, presidential ceramic cups and grinding tools were used to interpret the mirrors ranging from culture, food, religion, occupation and fashion about the human settlement within the castle.
“The mirrors are done by artists of the community which depict some of the historic houses and characters that inhabited these houses, however my challenges with the artists were their understanding to use the historical sources being the texture, image, objects or oral to reinterpret the sources and so I had to give them photographs to enable them understand to interpret these sources,” she added.
She said the mirror on the houses of the indigenes would last for a minimum of two years, after which it would be painted back to its normal state.
Prof. Engmann, also a descendant of former Danish Governor, Carl Engmann called for more support to replicate the project into other regions to promote the country’s tourism and economic growth.
Mr Hacki Reindorf, a direct descendant of Carl Christian Reindorf, first Euro-African-born in May 31, 1834 interpreting a mirror of the man on his house said he (Carl) was a pioneer historian, teacher, farmer, trader, physician and pastor who worked with the Basel Mission on the Gold Coast.
He said Carl wrote the book of the History of the Gold Coast and Asante in the Ga language, adding that scholars considered the book a “culturally important” work and an increasingly important source for Ghanaian history.
Mr Reindorf explained that the mirror on the house of Carl Reindorf depicted the life he lived with his nine children and impact made to the community.
Ms Olga Pappoe, Librarian at Christianborg Heritage Library established as part of the project said the facility has transformed and improved the capacity of youth in the community in learning and drawing skills.
A beneficiary of the library, Sarah Coleman said it had impacted her life since she could now read and interpret archaeological works well.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
