Kumasi, March 26, – A team of Ghanaian researchers has uncovered what is believed to be the first-ever musket balls discovered in Ghana, at the ruins of Fort Tantumquery at Otuam in the Central Region.
The discovery was made using advanced scientific techniques, including drone mapping, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography, which also revealed artefacts such as pottery, fragments of smoking pipes, door hinges, and other metal objects linked to early European occupation.
Musket balls are spherical lead projectiles historically used in muzzle-loading firearms from the 14th to the mid-19th century. Typically cast from molten lead, they were slightly smaller than the gun barrel and capable of causing severe injuries due to their size and impact.
The research was conducted through a collaboration involving the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the University of Ghana, and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), with funding support from the German Ministry of Education and Research through UNESCO-TWAS.
Dr Cyril Dziedzorm Boateng, the Principal Investigator, speaking at the “Muskets & Megahertz” exhibition in Kumasi, said the geophysical component of the study achieved an impressive 83.3 per cent feature-detection accuracy while reducing excavation work by 95 per cent compared to conventional archaeological methods.
He noted that while cannonballs are often found at historical forts and castles, musket balls are rarely discovered, making the find significant in understanding past military activities.
“This approach represents a major shift in the investigation of heritage sites in Ghana,” he said, adding that the use of advanced geophysical tools allowed researchers to explore historical sites without extensive physical disruption.
Dr Boateng, who is also a lecturer at KNUST’s Department of Physics, emphasised that the success of the project demonstrated the effectiveness of modern scientific methods under Ghana’s local soil conditions.
Explaining the choice of Fort Tantumquery, he said the site, established in the 1720s, had never previously been excavated despite being completely destroyed, leaving many historical questions unanswered.
“The recovered musket balls provide physical evidence of the fort’s military history,” he stated.
He advocated the adoption of similar modern techniques in investigating other archaeological sites, particularly forts and castles along Ghana’s coastline.
Professor Samuel Asare-Nkansah, speaking on behalf of the KNUST Pro-Vice Chancellor, said the discovery could help guide conservation priorities and enhance tourism development through well-documented historical narratives.
He added that such research could also create employment opportunities for geophysicists and archaeologists, while helping to preserve Ghana’s heritage before it is lost.
Mr Kennedy Atsutse, Head of Museums for the Central Region at the GMMB, expressed optimism that continued collaboration among institutions would improve the documentation of archaeological sites nationwide.
GHBUSS
March 26, 2026
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