Archeologists uncover Cape Verde's lost slave history

(CNN) Founded by Portuguese colonialists, the island nation of Cape Verde draws its influences from both Africa and Europe. Small, diverse and laid back, the archipelago nonetheless has a dark past.

New finds from archaeologists have brought to light fresh evidence of Cape Verde's role at the center of the transatlantic slave trade.

A pirate's battleground

Cape Verde's oldest city, Cidade Velho (formerly Ribeira Grande) was settled by the Portuguese in 1462. Exploration had found the island -- like the rest of the archipelago -- was completely uninhabited; a blank canvas to build a strategically important gateway between Europe, West Africa and the soon to be 'discovered' Americas.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/27/travel/cape-verde-slave-archeology/index.html

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