Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Caminhos e descaminhos do patrimônio arqueológico do Cais do Valongo (Rio de Janeiro)

  Valongo Wharf, recognized as the most significant physical evidence of enslaved Africans' arrival in the Americas by UNESCO, faces critical challenges in preservation and public recognition despite its 2017 World Heritage designation. Research reveals that coordination gaps between government levels, insufficient funding, and policy implementation delays hinder the site's potential as a memory site for African diaspora history. The absence of an interpretation center further limits educational opportunities on slavery and contemporary race issues. This analysis, based on judicial and administrative proceedings, underscores the need for stronger governance to fully realize Valongo Wharf's heritage value.

  Gardenghi Suiama, S. (2025). Caminos y desvíos del patrimonio arqueológico del Muelle de Valongo (Río de Janeiro). Vestígios - Revista Latino-Americana de Arqueologia Histórica, 19(2), 91–112. https://doi.org/10.31239/rap61667

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• Some Thoughts on the Human Valuing of Amber, Past and Present

  Recent archaeological findings from the Valongo Wharf site in Rio de Janeiro and an historic cemetery in New York reveal significant insights into the human valuation of amber, spanning millennia. These discoveries highlight amber's role in artisanal practices, trade, and cultural exchange, particularly within African and diasporic communities. The study integrates sourcing, manufacture, usage, and display methods, offering a nuanced understanding of how amber has been cherished and shared across different societies. By analyzing these elements, the research sheds light on the enduring significance of amber in both private and public contexts, from Neolithic times to the present.

  Causey, F. (2024). Kilka uwag o wartości bursztynu dla ludzkości dawniej i dziś. Porta Aurea, (23), 226–239. https://doi.org/10.26881/porta.2024.23.12

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• Lugar de Memória, Lugar de Consciência: O Cais do Valongo e o debate sobre a escravidão no espaço público

  The Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site has emerged as a significant 'site of memory' and 'site of consciousness,' offering profound reflections on slavery's legacy. Since its excavation in 2011, the site has sparked ongoing debates about slavery in public spaces, emphasizing its role in historical awareness. The study analyzes the site's candidacy for UNESCO World Heritage status, focusing on three objectives that aim to enhance its visibility and understanding. These objectives are evaluated based on their development since the site's discovery, highlighting the wharf's importance as a reference point for confronting sensitive pasts. The research employs a critical approach, drawing from PhD-level investigations to explore problematic issues arising from the site's historical significance.

  Rios, D. (2023). Site of memory, site of consciousness: the Valongo Wharf and the debate about slavery in public space. Revista Do Arquivo Geral Da Cidade Do Rio de Janeiro, (25), 74–105. https://doi.org/10.65625/3077qb29

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• Sensitive memories at a World Heritage Site

  A study reveals that individual narratives about the Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, expose decolonial perspectives and forms of resistance against structural racism. The research analyzes how the heritagization process shapes life stories, highlighting the emergence of identifications with black collectivities and the silencing of discriminatory practices rooted in coloniality. By examining the constructed narrative of value for Valongo Wharf's inclusion on the UNESCO list and its relation to the nearby New African Cemetery, the study adopted a listening approach to uncover complex pasts and changing attitudes. This work underscores the significance of personal narratives in displacing centralities and illuminating structural inequalities.

  Chuva, M., Aguiar, L. B., & Fonseca, B. C. (2021). Sensitive memories at a World Heritage Site. Decolonizing Colonial Heritage, 175–192. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003100102-12

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• Heritage Sites: How Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Communities Leverage Archaeology and Architecture to Protect Their Histories and Challenge the Hegemonic Heritage Discourse

  During the construction for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site reemerged as a significant historical landmark, representing the main port of entry for enslaved Africans in the Americas. This study highlights how Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous communities are leveraging archaeology and architecture to protect their histories and challenge dominant heritage narratives. The research focuses on the resurfacing of the Valongo Wharf in 2011 and the state government's attempt to demolish the Museu do Índio, a site crucial for discussing and promoting Brazilian Indigenous cultures. By analyzing these events, the study underscores the communities' agency in preserving their heritage against hegemonic discourses, offering insights into the intersection of archaeology, architecture, and cultural resistance.

  Querin, C. (2020). Heritage Sites: How Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Communities Leverage Archaeology and Architecture to Protect Their Histories and Challenge the Hegemonic Heritage Discourse. Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture, 2(1), 82–91. https://doi.org/10.1525/lavc.2020.210007

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• Valongo

  Valongo Wharf serves as a powerful symbol of Brazil's complex relationship with its history of slavery and racial inequality. The site, which has been the focus of archaeological and sociopolitical action, reveals uncomfortable truths about the subjugation of Black people by Whites that persist in collective memory. This study highlights the challenges and limitations faced by White archaeologists in investigating such sensitive sites, emphasizing the need for Afro-descendants to take a more active role in the recovery and interpretation of their own past. By examining Valongo Wharf's significance, the research sheds light on contemporary issues of racial recognition, social justice, and the ongoing struggle for fundamental rights for Brazil's Black population.

  Lima, T. A. (2020). Valongo. Current Anthropology, 61(S22), S317–S327. https://doi.org/10.1086/709820

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