Archaeological excavations in Benin City, Nigeria, conducted ahead of the construction of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), are uncovering new details about the Kingdom of Benin’s history, urban development, and celebrated craftsmanship.
The project, a partnership between MOWAA, the British Museum, the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), and several research teams, is the most extensive archaeological investigation ever carried out in the city.
Benin City, once the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Benin (c. CE 1200–1897), was renowned for its advanced urban layout and exceptional artistry, including the world-famous Benin Bronzes. These intricate metalworks amazed visitors from across Africa and beyond. However, the city’s royal palace was destroyed in 1897 during a British raid, and thousands of its treasures were looted. Since then, few excavations have been conducted at the site.
Between 2022 and 2024, archaeologists began new excavations in two major plots where the MOWAA Institute and Rainforest Gallery are being built. Combining ground-penetrating radar, test pits, and large-scale excavation, they documented cultural layers between 1.5 and 3 meters deep, revealing a sequence of occupation stretching from before the kingdom’s rise to the post-colonial era.
Radiocarbon dates show that some layers predate the founding of the Benin Kingdom, suggesting early settlement in the area during the first millennium AD. Other deposits correspond to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries—the height of Benin’s power—containing evidence of architecture, palace remains, and zones used for artisanal activities such as metalworking. Later layers trace the city’s transformation after its destruction, through colonial and post-independence developments, including use as a police barracks and hospital.
This project marks the first major excavation in Benin City in 50 years and establishes the most detailed archaeological sequence yet for this historic center. Its discoveries illuminate not only the evolution of Benin’s royal capital but also broader aspects of West African life, including trade, diet, and craftsmanship.
The institute, now under construction on the historic site, will serve as a center for research, storage, and conservation of archaeological materials from across West Africa.
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Which organizations are collaborating on the archaeological project in Benin City?