World Heritage Identification Number: 1548
World Heritage since: 2017
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Archaeological Sites
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇧🇷 Brazil
Continent: Americas
UNESCO World Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
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Tracing the Legacy of the Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site: A Testimony to the Transatlantic Slave Trade
The Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, offers a poignant glimpse into one of the darkest chapters in human history – the transatlantic slave trade. Located in central Rio de Janeiro, this significant historical landmark stands as a testament to the resilience, endurance, and cultural richness that African descendants have brought to the Americas.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site is located in central Rio de Janeiro and encompasses the entirety of Jornal do Comércio Square. It is in the former harbour area of Rio de Janeiro in which the old stone wharf was built for the landing of enslaved Africans reaching the South American continent from 1811 onwards. An estimated 900,000 Africans arrived in South America via Valongo. The site is composed of several archaeological layers, the lowest of which consists of floor pavings in pé de moleque style, attributed to the original Valongo Wharf. It is the most important physical trace of the arrival of African slaves on the American continent.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (vi): Valongo Wharf is the most important physical evidence associated with the historic arrival of enslaved Africans on the American continent. It is a site of conscience, which illustrates strong and tangible associations to one of the most terrible crimes of humanity, the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of people creating the largest forced migration movement in history. As the very location the African stepped onto American soil and with it into their new lives as enslaved labour, the site evokes painful memories, which many African Brazilians can strongly relate to. Preserving these memories, the vicinity of Valongo Wharf has become an arena for various manifestations celebrating African heritage on an ongoing basis.
Encyclopedia Record: Valongo Wharf
The Valongo Wharf (Portuguese: Cais do Valongo) is an old dock located in the port area of Rio de Janeiro, between the current Coelho e Castro and Sacadura Cabral streets. Built in 1811, it was the site of landing and trading of enslaved Africans until 1831, with the blockade of Africa banning the Atlantic slave trade to Brazil.Additional Site Details
Area: 0.3895 hectares
Number of Components: 1
Coordinates: -22.8971111111 , -43.1873944444
Image
© Halley Pacheco de Oliveira, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
