Rao, Senegal

Rao
Town
Rao is located in Senegal
Rao
Rao
Coordinates: 15°55′N 16°23′W / 15.917°N 16.383°W / 15.917; -16.383
Country Senegal
RegionSaint-Louis Region
DepartmentSaint-Louis Department
ArrondissementRao Arrondissement
Elevation
9 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2003)
 • Total
1,146[1]
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)

Rao is a village in northern Senegal, approximately 15km from Saint-Louis. It is the seat of the eponymous Rao Arrondissement.

Rao is known primarily as an important archaeological site, where the 'Rao Pectoral' was discovered in a burial mound in 1941. The large, golden disc is among the most impressive artifacts unearthed in Senegal.[2] It dates from the period of the founding of the Jolof Empire, and was found near the ancient village of Mboyu-Gar where the empire's founder Ndiadiane Ndiaye first appeared in Waalo.[3]

References

  1. ^ PEPAM [1]
  2. ^ "Pectoral (The Rao Pectoral) and Five Gold Beads". Met Museum. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  3. ^ Boulegue, Jean (2013). Les royaumes wolof dans l'espace sénégambien (XIIIe-XVIIIe siècle) (in French). Paris: Karthala Editions. p. 39.