Agongointo-Zoungoudo Underground Town, Underground archaeological settlement in Bohicon, Benin
Agongointo-Zoungoudo Underground Town is an archaeological site featuring a network of interconnected caves and chambers situated approximately 10 meters (33 feet) beneath ground level. The complex contains around 150 caves with residential areas, cooking spaces, wells, and storage rooms organized for daily inhabitation.
The underground structures were built during the reign of King Dakodonou, the second ruler of Abomey in the 17th century. This period was marked by regional conflicts that prompted communities to create these subterranean settlements for protection.
The underground complex reveals how local communities adapted their daily life to subterranean conditions, creating functional living spaces deep below ground. This distinctive approach to settlement reflects practical needs rather than mythical or spiritual purposes.
The site is positioned along the national highway connecting Cotonou to Parakou, making it accessible from the main regional route. Organized tours guide visitors through the underground structures and help explain how the different chambers were used.
The discovery of this underground complex happened by accident during road construction when heavy machinery unexpectedly uncovered one of the caves. This chance finding led archaeologists to investigate and map the entire network beneath the ground.
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