History of the Gambia

The earliest inhabitants of The Gambia are unknown, but they left behind large shell middens and enigmatic stone circles attesting to diverse subsistence strategies and well-organized, hierarchical societies. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire expanded into the Gambia river valley, where Mandinka warriors and traders founded (or took over) numerous small states. The first Europeans to visit the Gambia River were the Portuguese in the 15th century.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA. More on occurri.