14-Bis-Saracura Station Halted by Archaeological Finds
31.08.2026
The 14-Bis-Saracura station construction halt follows the discovery of additional archaeological remains at the São Paulo Metro Line 6-Orange site in Bela Vista, central São Paulo. Concessionaire Linha Uni is waiting for instructions from Iphan before work can be reorganized and resumed.
New archaeological finds at 14-Bis-Saracura
The latest materials were discovered about 2.2 meters below ground and may be connected with practices of African-matrix religions. Archaeological work has identified building foundations, drainage structures and what appear to be remains of a room, along with tied bundles of twigs, indigo and other objects that may have been used in religious rituals.
Other items reported from the Saracura/Vai-Vai archaeological site include a hammer fixed to the ground, nails, beads, bovine bones and fragments of chicken eggs. Iphan, the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage, has been notified and its technical team is assessing the discoveries.
Linha Uni said the construction programme cannot be replanned until the heritage authority determines how the archaeological material should be handled.
“The Concessionaire Linha Uni informs that the activities at the construction site of the future 14 Bis-Saracura Station are halted due to new archaeological finds, awaiting the guidelines of Iphan (National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage) regarding the treatment to be given to the materials found. Only from this definition will it be possible to replan the sequencing of activities at the site.”
The concessionaire also said it continues to follow Iphan’s requirements and remains in contact with the relevant authorities and the local community.
“The Concessionaire rigorously follows the guidelines of the agency, which is responsible for defining the procedures to be adopted, and maintains permanent dialogue with the competent authorities and with the local community.”
Saracura/Vai-Vai archaeological site extends further
The archaeological area is on land formerly occupied by the Vai-Vai samba school’s premises. Research has identified structures associated with the Black population that historically lived in the area, including the possible existence of a terreiro and objects related to the former Quilombo do Saracura.
A report submitted to Iphan in July indicates that the Saracura/Vai-Vai archaeological site extends beyond the sections previously excavated within the construction area. New structures and groups of artifacts were recorded in Area 6, beside Area 4, where historical remains had already been identified.
This is not the first archaeological interruption affecting 14-Bis-Saracura. The initial discoveries were made during station excavation in 2022, and work was suspended in January 2023 so the material could be studied and recovered. Across an archaeological area covering 880 square meters, around 110,000 items of interest were found and are now undergoing laboratory analysis.
Those earlier remains were located about three meters below ground. Specialists believe much of the material was left by quilombolas, descendants of enslaved Africans. Descendants of Africans occupied the area in the early 19th century, when it was home to the Quilombo do Saracura.
In March 2025, Iphan authorized construction to resume after requiring a project for the salvage and musealization of the artifacts found at the site. Another source states that work resumed in March 2026. The latest discoveries have led to a further suspension, with no date set for work to restart.
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Construction halt leaves completion date uncertain
The 14-Bis-Saracura station construction halt adds uncertainty to the station’s completion schedule. Other parts of São Paulo Metro Line 6-Orange are already operating, while the station remains well behind the wider programme. One of the source reports states that only 15% of its projects have been completed.
Line 6-Orange began passenger operation on 3 July 2026 with six stations on the section between João Paulo I and Perdizes, linking the north and west zones. Initial operations are free from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., with an estimated 13-minute interval between trains.
Two additional stations, Brasilândia and Itaberaba-Hospital Vila Penteado, are due to enter service in October 2026. The section between Perdizes and São Joaquim is planned for next year, while completion of the route is scheduled by October 2027.
Once finished, Line 6-Orange is expected to have 15 stations over more than 15 km, with interchange connections to Line 4-Yellow and Line 1-Blue. The archaeological discoveries mean 14-Bis-Saracura could be completed after the October 2027 deadline, although no revised opening date for the station has been established.
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