MEMORIES UNDER WATER: THE CHALLENGES OF MARITIME AND UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY IN LATIN AMERICA
The aquatic spaces of Latin America—seas, rivers, lakes and cenotes—have been key settings for the connectivity, trade, conflicts and cosmovision of human societies over time. From pre-Hispanic navigation and colonial dynamics to the formation of national states and modern globalized trafficking, the continent’s waters safeguard an underwater cultural heritage that remains largely unstudied.
This symposium invites discussion of recent advances, innovative methodologies and the theoretical problems of maritime and underwater archaeology in the region. In line with the theme of the 59th ICA, we seek to explore how the tradition of historical and indigenous records intersects with technological innovation (such as remote sensing, 3D photogrammetry and archaeometry) to recover the memories of our waters. A critical space will also be opened to debate heritage protection, the impact of climate change on submerged sites, and the ethical challenges posed by looting and the commercialization of underwater cultural heritage in Latin America.
The main thematic axes are as follows:
* Navigation and Exchange: Pre-Columbian contacts, colonial trade routes, ports, shipyards and historical shipwrecks.
* Maritime and Inland Landscapes: Human interaction with the aquatic environment, river and lake archaeology, and archaeology in highland environments or caves/cenotes.
* Innovation and Methodology: Application of new technologies to the survey, excavation, conservation and dissemination of submerged heritage.
* Management, Ethics and Risk: Public policies, ratification of the 2001 UNESCO Convention, public archaeology and the impact of climate change on site preservation.
