The Influence of James Anquandah on the Development and Practice of Eclectic Archaeology in Ghana

Abstract

This paper elucidates the impact and influence that Professor James Anquandah’s work and efforts had on the development and practice of archaeology in Ghana. As the first Ghanaian-trained archaeologist, Anquan Dah committed his life and expertise to the establishment and consolidation of archaeological training in the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, at the University of Ghana. In doing so, he trained five generations of ar archaeology students over five decades. His passion for archaeological fieldwork, community participation in archaeology, and, ultimately, the use of eclectic ar archaeology in solving societal challenges have influenced the scholastic practices of many of the students he trained. In this paper, the coauthors explain how Anquandah’s concept and practice of eclectic archaeology have influenced their ongoing research projects in Ghana.