The Dissenter

#1200 Vicky Oelze: The Anthropology of the Atlantic and Transatlantic Slave Trade

Jan 9, 2026
Guest
Vicky Oelze
Vicky Oelze, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at UC Santa Cruz, dives deep into her research on the Atlantic and transatlantic slave trade. She discusses groundbreaking work on strontium isotopes that helps trace the origins of enslaved individuals. The conversation highlights the significance of the unique Vale da Galfaria burial site and critiques the erasure of its history through modern developments. Oelze emphasizes the ethical aspects of handling ancestral remains and the importance of community engagement in repatriation efforts.
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INSIGHT

Strontium Maps Pinpoint Origins

  • Strontium isotope mapping reveals geological fingerprints that embed in human tissues and trace geographic origin.
  • Vicky Oelze built an African strontium isoscape to narrow origins of enslaved individuals beyond 'Sub-Saharan Africa'.
ANECDOTE

Unique Mass Burial In Lagos

  • Vale da Gafaria is the only known mass burial in Europe tied to the early Atlantic slave trade and likely dates to the 15th–16th centuries.
  • Excavators found 158 African-origin individuals near Lagos, Portugal, with dental modifications and associated artifacts indicating West/Central African origin.
INSIGHT

An Exceptionally Early Site

  • Vale da Gafaria may be the oldest known archaeological site globally linked to the slave trade, offering rare early-period data.
  • The remains provide unique responsibility for transparent public communication and engagement with Afro-descendant communities.
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