Rio de Janeiro: excavation reveals historic find at Catete Palace

A historic floor was found under the garden of Catete Palace during the modernization of the building’s sewage system, which began a month ago.

The exquisitely artistic tiles from the 19th century were found 75 centimeters below the ground in excellent condition.

Archeologists who have been studying the Catete Palace for years were “surprised” since the original plans and documents of the house did not record this construction.

DETAILS ABOUT THE HISTORIC FLOOR DISCOVERED AT CATETE PALACE

It is not yet known what the original function of the historic floor was.

Researchers from the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage and the Brazilian Institute of Museums believe that the tiles may be part of an old bathhouse, the residence of the baron’s mother-in-law, or another of the palace’s entrances.

“These are ‘guesses’; we haven’t had time to research,” said museologist Isabel Portella.

“This could be part of a kitchen or a lavatory because these buildings were further apart. We have some hypotheses because no plans for the palace indicated that there would have any construction.”

The British firm Milton Hollins & Co was responsible for manufacturing the floors, which also helped modernize the Palace of Westminster in London.

According to O Globo, archaeologist Ane Elisabeth Simões, responsible for discovering the manufacturer of the tiles, identified the company because of a small piece that broke off during excavations in the garden.

Designed by German architect Carl Friedrich Gustav Waehneldt, Catete Palace was built between 1858 and 1867.

The building served as the residence for the family of the merchant and coffee farmer Antônio Clemente Pinto, the Baron of Nova Friburgo.

In 1897, Vice President Manuel Vitorino bought the place and made it the headquarters of the Presidency.

In 1960, then-President Juscelino Kubistchek transformed the place into a museum of the Republic.

With information from Revista Oeste