This article compares archeological data and materials with classic historical sources in examining the relationship of historical trajectories of the management and occupation of space to issues of ethnic identity in Senegambia. To this end, there is a brief analysis of the production of archeological, historical, anthropological and ethnographic knowledges about this region, as well as of the limits of these bodies of knowledge, which are configured like a mosaic of spaces and populations that are marked over the years by conflicts, negotiations and accords, thus constituting a culturally diverse region. Historical archeology can contribute to discussions related to the incorporation of Senegambian societies in the currents of changes to the capitalist system and its impact on everyday life. It can also assist in evaluating the importance, nature and role of the products that formed the basis of trade in local economies, given the fragmentary nature of written sources on this subject.
Senegambia; identities; historical archeology