Forensic Archaeological Investigation Of Venture Smith And His Family

Dr. Nick Bellantoni, State Archaeologist
Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center
Sunday, December 3, 3:00 p.m.
Biological Sciences and Physics Building, Room 130
No registration needed – Free

Broteer Venture Smith (1729-1805) was an enslaved African taken from his homeland while still a child. He was maintained as a captive in Connecticut during the 18th century and through his own enterprise and initiative he eventually secured his own freedom. Venture Smith dictated his life story to a local school teacher who published, A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America, Related by Himself, in 1798. From this narrative, we have a greater understanding of Venture Smith’s life, through the recounting of his experiences of enslavement in Africa, his entry at Anomabu into the transatlantic slave trade, his early life in the Americas, and his achievement and experiences of freedom. This project brought together the descendants of Venture Smith, scientists and reseachers from the fields of forensics, genetics, history, physics, physical anthropology, archaeology, the humanities, and social sciences to document the incredible story of this legendary figure.

For additional information please visit:
http://www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center are part the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UConn