In search of memories of the repression of the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985), archaeology teams from Unicamp, the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) carried out, between October 27th and November 8th, the second phase of archaeological activities at the former DOI-Codi/SP. The objects found in both the first and second phases, as well as previously unpublished documents, will be presented in an exhibition that will open during Unicamp's 2026 Welcome Week.
The DOI-Codi, whose acronym refers to the Information Operations Detachment – Internal Defense Operations Center, was located at Rua Tutóia, 921, the current headquarters of the 36th Civil Police Station in the capital of São Paulo. Between 1969 and 1983, the site became one of the main centers of torture and repression during the military regime.
The first excavation was carried out in 2023 and, in this second stage, explains Professor Aline Carvalho, coordinator of the “Paulo Duarte” Public Archaeology Laboratory (LAP), linked to the Center for Environmental Studies and Research (Nepam) at Unicamp, new areas of the courtyard were investigated. “These are areas close to the first excavation, but which we were unable to cover in the initial stage.”
Objects such as a dental prosthesis, a bottle of eye drops still with the dropper, a set of buttons, and a coin with the face of Getúlio Vargas are among the items found. “These are everyday materials, like dishes, ashtrays, medical pieces, but they are emblematic items that will come to the Archaeology Laboratory at Unicamp. Our goal is to build an archaeological collection for a future space of memory focused on discussions about the rule of law and democracy itself,” says Carvalho.
These materials originate from the excavation in the area known as the trench, at the entrance of the building, where a large part of the interrogations and torture took place and where the photo simulating Vladimir Herzog's suicide was taken, to date the only internal image of the building during the operation of the DOI-Codi, where almost 7 people were interrogated and tortured.
The researcher explains that the exhibition that LAP is organizing at Unicamp will be set up at the beginning of the academic year in the “Fausto Castilho” Rare Books Library (Bora). “Unicamp has been a very strong defender of work related to this topic. Both the research team and the administrative team of the University understand that knowledge is built in a dialogical and active way with society, and Unicamp has shown its capacity to be present,” defines Carvalho, who recalls that, in April of this year, during the 190th meeting of the University Council (Consu), the proposal to make the University responsible for managing a memorial to be installed on the premises of the DOI-Codi was approved, based on an agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office of São Paulo.
history and memory
In a "set of actions to promote the theme," the researcher highlights that the 2026 Freshman Welcome Week exhibition will display objects found in the excavations and previously unpublished documents from the archives of the Faculty of Medicine (FCM) and the Edgard Leuenroth Archive (AEL). "The idea is to reflect on the role that Unicamp played during the dictatorship, on the ambiguous figure of Zeferino Vaz [Unicamp's first rector], who, on the one hand, negotiated with the military, but, on the other hand, protected the University from repression and helped persecuted professors and students," she says.
Carvalho emphasizes that the partnership with Bora has already begun, with the exhibition "Absences Brazil," which opened on November 7th and runs until January 10th. The exhibition presents the work of Argentine photographer Gustavo Germano on forced disappearances during the dictatorship, in images that reveal pain, longing, and, above all, injustice. The "Absences" project began in Argentina, motivated by the disappearance of the photographer's brother, detained by the Argentine dictatorship in 1976, whose remains were only identified in 2014. The project expanded to other Latin American countries targeted by Operation Condor [a campaign of repression and state terrorism orchestrated by the dictatorships in the Southern Cone, with the support of the United States] and arrived in Brazil with the recovery of 12 stories of disappeared persons.
“In this relationship between past, present, and future, our goal is to prevent memory from being lost. The past is what happened; in the present, we have the actions, which serve as an example for those who see something positive in the dictatorship, who say there was no violence. And, in the relationship with the future, which is very delicate, lies the desire for better times,” emphasizes the researcher.
Step by step
New excavations at the site are planned until August 2026. “In an ideal world, we would need three to six months to survey all areas, but this project is costly, so we are doing it in shorter stages, like steps,” he explains. The second stage, incidentally, was only possible thanks to funding via a mandatory amendment (n° 2025.274.71731) from state deputy Guilherme Cortez (PSOL) and the partnership with Sesc Vila Mariana.
“The team has a common core, but is always opening positions for new researchers. The idea is for more people to have field experience in such a difficult topic,” highlights Carvalho, who emphasizes the “pioneering” nature of the work being carried out. In the second stage, Unicamp included undergraduate students from the History course.
The team is coordinated by professors Andrés Zarankin (UFMG) and Cláudia Plens (Unifesp). In this second phase, the Forensic Archaeology team expanded its analyses to the second floor of the building, aiming to identify possible human organic remains, such as the presence of blood, through the application of forensic techniques that include the use of luminol, a chemical reagent that, in contact with the iron in hemoglobin, emits a bluish light. An architectural survey coordinated by architect Alessandro Sbampato (Rebrapesc) in collaboration with Deborah Neves (Unifesp) was also initiated.
Carvalho, along with Professor Fernanda Lima (UFMG), works to promote guided tours of the site. The location has also received former political prisoners who were held at DOI-Codi and family members of survivors, strengthening the project's commitment to listening, recognizing, and reconstructing collective memory.
Cover photo:
Read more:
Agreement between Unicamp and MP provides for DOI-Codi memorial
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