Kunta Kinteh Island, also James Island or St Andrew's Island, is an island located in the Gambia River, North Bank Division, The Gambia. It was a contact point with Arabs and Phoenicians before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century AD. Fort James, which is located on the island, was built originally by Portuguese in 1456 AD. The fort was later destroyed and rebuilt several times during the conflicts between the English and French in the 17th and 18th centuries AD. The island is distinguished by its historical importance as it is linked to the beginning and end of the slave trade. Fort James was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 as part of Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites.