Weaving the Second Skin: Protection Against Evil Among the Valongo Slaves in Nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro

Archaeological evidence from the Valongo Wharf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reveals that enslaved Africans used protective artifacts—combined with scarifications and tattoos—to create a 'second skin.' This material culture, rich in iconography, served as both resistance against oppression and a strategy for negotiating less disadvantageous positions in their harsh lives. The study highlights the slaves' beliefs, coping mechanisms, and social dimensions through discarded or hidden objects, offering insight into their despair and hopes during the 19th century.

Lima, T. A., André Torres de Souza, M., & Sene, G. M. (2014). Weaving the Second Skin: Protection Against Evil Among the Valongo Slaves in Nineteenth-century Rio de Janeiro. Journal of African Diaspora Archaeology and Heritage, 3(2), 103–136. https://doi.org/10.1179/2161944114z.00000000015