Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site

World Heritage

Brazil

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The Valongo Pier archaeological site is located in the center of Rio de Janeiro and includes the entire Plaza de Comercialla. It is located in the former port area of Rio de Janeiro, where an ancient stone pier was built from 1811 for enslaved Africans to land on the South American continent. An estimated 900,000 Africans arrived in South America via Valongo. The site consists of several archaeological layers, the lowest of which is a pé de moleque-style floor paving attributed to the original Valongo Pier. This is the most important physical trace of the arrival of African slaves to the American continent.

# Archaeological sites