Bastiaan Johannes van Dalen

This research project addresses the critical gap in our understanding of how historical human activities have shaped African island ecosystems. Despite the exceptional potential of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea to provide valuable long-term, high-resolution insights into human impact and ecological resilience, it remains one of the only countries in the world without systematic archaeological research. Focusing on the smaller island Príncipe, the core objectives of this research are: (1) to conduct systematic archaeological fieldwork across Príncipe, developing the first comprehensive archaeological database in one of the most understudied biodiversity hotspots in the world; (2) to combine archaeological, paleoecological, and historical data and examine the role of humans in transforming once undisturbed island ecosystems into human-dominated landscapes; and (3) to apply these findings to support local conservation efforts and heritage management strategies through partnerships with local stakeholders. Key outputs will include essential archaeological and paleoecological baseline information against which to measure human impact from initial arrival to the present, novel insights into the long-term ecological resilience of purportedly vulnerable island ecosystems, and contributions to conservation efforts, heritage management, and ecotourism planning. Consequently, laying a key foundation for a sustained research initiative in the Gulf of Guinea.