Melisa A. Salerno

Después de la tormenta. Arqueología de la represión en América Latina

En este trabajo ofrecemos un panorama general sobre los estudios en “arqueologia de la represion” (sensu Funari y Zarankin 2006), centrandonos en el caso de America Latina. Nos referimos a las investigaciones que discuten las practicas represivas de las dictaduras de la region durante las decadas de 1960 y 1970.

The Engineering of Genocide: An Archaeology of Dictatorship in Argentina

Dictatorships and state terrorism were sociopolitical realities shared by most Latin American countries from 1960 to 1980. These regimes pursued the persecution and extermination of ideas and people considered to be dangerous. The history of political repression in Latin America was frequently silenced by official discourses. Archaeology represents an alternative way to learn more about the 1960–1980 period of violence. In this chapter, we discuss the role played by certain material devices in the identification and punishment of political opponents. We will take the most recent dictatorship in Argentina (1976–1983) as our case study, and we will focus on two different but interrelated expressions of material culture: architecture and dress. Both of these were fundamental in the engineering of genocide, as they were used in the definition and denial of victims’ identities.

“Looking South”: Historical Archaeology in South America

An overview of the history and development of historical archaeology in South America from its beginnings to the present is presented here, covering the origins, theoretical frameworks, and subjects of investigation. Historical archaeology in South America has experienced an accelerated growth since the mid-1980s. Taking these circumstances into account, some of the most outstanding projects headed by South American archaeologists during the last decades are analyzed.

Discussing the Spaces of Memory in Buenos Aires: Official Narratives and the Challenges of Site Management

In this chapter we consider the spaces of memory in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. We focus our attention on those spaces officially recognized by the government in the last decade or so. They comprise a series of former clandestine detention centers, parks, and some other sites (small squares, commemorative plaques, etc.) which refer to the tragic consequences of the latest military dictatorship in the country, and are declared to be of public importance. All of these places allow us to discuss the relationship among memory, space, and narrative in Argentina, highlighting the role of government authorities in the elaboration of the bond. From an archaeological standpoint, we approach the materiality of the official spaces of memory and the narratives they help to create on the recent past of the country. We consider whether these places can effectively achieve their goals, and we point out some of the tensions they involve regarding the construction of an official memory in an always situated present. Finally, we discuss the ethical commitment necessary for authorities to work in places connected to trauma.

Tierra de nadie: Arqueología, lugar y paisaje en Antártida

In this paper we discuss some of the ways in which certain areas of the Antarctic continent intended to be transformed into a series of ‘places’ not only known but also dominated by the modern world. With that aim in mind, we consider the materiality of the cultural landscape, making reference to the multiple practices that could have shaped it. We focus our attention on the first human settlements on the South Shetland Islands, which were established by sealers and whalers at the early nineteenth century.

The Anthropocene in Antarctica: Considering “Fixed” and “More Fluid” Perspectives of Analysis

Starting in 1995, our research project seeks to learn more about human presence in Antarctica; in particular, though not exclusively, about sealers’ encounters with the South Shetland Islands in the nineteenth century. In this chapter we discuss the material dimension of the Anthropocene in Antarctica from an archaeological point of view. First, we describe our initial approaches to the subject, when we were still constrained by an orthodox understanding of the material world. Second, we critically reflect on our previous work and explore new possibilities for analysis, considering a challenging definition of the material world, bodily experience, and the interconnectedness of the webs of life.

So Far, So Close. Approaching Experience in the Study of the Encounter Between Sealers and the South Shetland Islands (Antarctica, Nineteenth Century)

In the beginning of the nineteenth century, sealing vessels representing the interests of capitalist companies ventured beyond the edge of the known world. Their goal was to find new sources of oil and skins for supplying the international market. It was in this context that sealers first arrived at the South Shetland Islands. Without a doubt, the “encounter” between the hunters and the archipelago (a region previously unknown) could have presented challenges and opened up new experiences. However, and at least until now, most historical and archaeological research on the subject has underestimated the role of bodily, sensory, and affective experience. In this chapter we try to understand why; furthermore, we present an alternative and experimental proposal to integrate experience in our own research project.

ASIA, EAST | Historical Archaeology

This paper examines the trajectory of Historical Archaeology in South America, taking into account its origins, theoretical frameworks, problems of investigation, and the particularities of this field of study in the region.