Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Dra Mónica A. Berón, Buenos Aires University, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina (IDECU-CONICET), Argentina, monberon56@yahoo.com.ar
Dr Mariano Bonomo, La Plata University- National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina (CONICET), Argentina, mbonomo@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar
Dra Camila Gianotti Garcia, Republica University, Landscape Archaeology Laboratory, Uruguay, camila.gianotti@lappu.edu.uy
This session aims to analyse the historical trajectories of institutions and key actors involved in the research, education, and management of archaeological heritage in the Global South. It will examine the sociopolitical changes that have influenced the academic and scientific field, the creation of institutions, and the development of heritage protection regulations. It will also reflect on international debates concerning cultural sovereignty and the need for intercultural approaches to inclusive and sustainable heritage management.
The session will address the historical and political contexts that have shaped the course of archaeology in various regions, highlighting the process of institutionalizing archaeology, from a non-professional activity to a formal academic discipline. The role of universities and scientific societies in creating academic programs and regulating the discipline will be explored, as well as early efforts to create regulations for heritage protection.
Another key theme will be to critically analyse the relationship between international regulations, such as those promoted by UNESCO, and national policies on cultural sovereignty and heritage protection. The session will discuss how countries in the Global South have balanced the protection of their heritage with international demands, often in conflict with national policies on economic development and cultural sovereignty.
Finally, new perspectives on archaeological heritage management will be discussed, focusing on the involvement of local communities and promoting an intercultural and sustainable approach, alongside proposals and practical experiences. The session will highlight the importance of including communities in decisions about conservation and interpretation of heritage and explore sustainable management models that respect both traditional knowledge and best scientific practices.
Presentations analysing case studies from different countries in the Global South will be invited to reflect on the challenges and future opportunities for heritage management in these regions and to formulate recommendations for improving collaboration between local actors, academics, and international organisations.
Papers:
Kakadu: Leveraging an Archaeological Gaze on Australian Heritage
Christine Tarbett-Buckley, Adjunct Research Associate | Faculty of Arts and Society, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Australia; Emeritus Curator, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia
The Northern Territory of Australia situates an inquiry into the dynamics of ‘Australian heritage’, problematising the ephemeral markings by which this entity is brought to life at Kakadu National Park. The study uses an archaeological approach as a method to explore heritage in its contemporary setting. The sites included in the inquiry are marketed as key attractions for experiencing the landscape as a World Heritage listed place. Narrated site encounters express the socio-political and historical contexts of Australian heritage, revealing an ontologically diverse network of local-global relations linked in with ties to people and place. The reading enables the realities of heritage to emerge as enactments intentioned by their setting.
Management Plan for Archaeological Heritage and Indigenous Participation in Cerro de los Viejos, Province of La Pampa, Argentina
Ignacio Roca,
Mónica Berón, Buenos Aires University, National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina (IDECU-CONICET), Argentina
The central territory of Argentina has been the stage for a significant social and cultural dynamic, which is reflected in its archaeological heritage. The locality of Cerro de los Viejos is one of those strategic sites that has been important for at least the last 6,000 years. The confluence of interests among governmental institutions in the province of La Pampa, such as the Secretary of Culture, the Directorate of Heritage, the Provincial Indigenous Council, and the Western Pampa Archaeology team, led to the development of a management plan for this locality between 2017 and 2020, in response to demands from various sectors of society, including Indigenous communities.
This process coincided with a context of strengthening Indigenous representation bodies within provincial policies, the establishment of specific institutional frameworks for heritage management, and the enactment of new regulations governing its oversight. The management plan promoted accessibility, the implementation of interpretative trails, and the incorporation of digital technologies, including augmented reality (AR) as an innovative tool for the dissemination and appropriation of heritage. We present the participatory design process of these strategies, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and achievements related to the integration of local communities in heritage management.
Recent History of Archaeology at the Museo de La Plata, Argentina: Academic Institutionalisation and Political Contexts
Mariano Bonomo, CONICET-División Arqueología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina
The Museo de La Plata has played a crucial role in developing archaeology in Argentina, establishing itself as a leading institution for teaching, research, and the conservation of one of the country’s largest object collections. This presentation examines key moments in the recent history of archaeology at this university museum, with a particular focus on the second half of the 20th century. The analysis begins with the period leading up to the formal establishment of the Anthropology degree in 1958 at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata and concludes in the early 1980s, marked by the democratic transition and the end of military dictatorships. Over these three decades, the presentation highlights pivotal events, including the recruitment of Austrian prehistorian Oswald Menghin, the academic institutionalisation of the discipline, internal tensions within the museum’s research environment, the remodelling of exhibition halls to reflect curricular content, changes in academic programs, the dismissal of Alberto Rex González, and other key milestones in the institution’s historical trajectory. By analysing archival documents, photographs, and contemporary testimonies, this presentation aims to shed light on the consolidation of archaeology as a professional discipline and the power dynamics that have shaped its evolution at the Museo de La Plata.
“The Latent Gold Mine that Lies on our Land”: Cultural Heritage and World Heritage Listing in Papua New Guinea
Professor Bryce Barker and Professor Lara Lamb, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Kenneth Korokai, Kerewo Clan leader, Papua New Guinea
This paper discusses broad issues of cultural preservation, sovereignty, and the negotiation of values between global institutions like UNESCO and local Indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea. It aims to contribute to the conversation about how cultural heritage can be managed in a way that respects local knowledge and land rights while still adhering to international conventions like World Heritage Listing.
PNG currently has one UNESCO World Heritage site, the archaeological site of Kuk in the western Highlands. There are three other potential sites on the tentative list for future consideration. We suggest that there are valuable lessons to be learned from the experiences of the Indigenous landowners at Kuk, including how to better integrate local perspectives into the process of World Heritage Listing. Local clan landowners often have different priorities and values concerning their land and heritage, which may not align with the broader, often external, interests associated with World Heritage status. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in the Kikori River Basin/Great Papuan Plateau we present a localised, grassroots understanding of cultural heritage and World Heritage Listing.
Damn the Heritage: Full Speed Ahead for Tourism
Peter R. Schmidt, Emeritus Professor, University of Florida; Extraordinary Professor of Archeology, University of Pretoria
E. Ichumbaki, Dept of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
An enduring element of heritage management in Africa is the privileging of central government control over heritage, a legacy from the colonial era. Centralised control has often meant the marginalisation of community initiatives to conserve heritage values. We examine a departure from this model in Tanzania, where central government has decentralised heritage management. Using a developmental model to that elevates tourism income above heritage, Tanzania has forfeited central control over vast territories such as national parks, forest reserves, and other agency-managed resources. This departure from the colonial model means that agencies without expertise in heritage management and ignorant of heritage values are now charged with managing sites such as the Laetoli footprints and Kilwa Kisiwani—a Swahili World Heritage Site. This hands-off policy change contributes to severe damage to irreplaceable heritage sites. In their rush to enhance tourism income, for example, Ngorongoro Conservation Area has destroyed priceless Laetoli footprints. Though Tanzania has capacity to provide trained managers, it ignores management deficiencies and continues on a path that exacerbated by a continued refusal to acknowledge and accept viable local management approaches inevitably will mean the loss of world-class heritage sites. This policy of disengagement is exacerbated by a continued refusal to acknowledge and accept viable local management approaches.
Integrating Archaeological Heritage into Environmental and Territorial Policies in Uruguay: Opportunities and Challenges
Nicolás Gazzán, Laboratorio de Arqueología del Paisaje y Patrimonio del Uruguay, Departamento de Arqueología, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación; Departamento de Sistemas Agrarios y Paisajes Culturales, Centro Universitario Regional del Este. Universidad de la República, Uruguay
Cristina Cancela-Cereijo, Laboratorio de Arqueología del Paisaje y Patrimonio del Uruguay, Departamento de Sistemas Agrarios y Paisajes Culturales, Centro Universitario Regional del Este; Universidad de la República, Uruguay
Camila Gianotti, Laboratorio de Arqueología del Paisaje y Patrimonio del Uruguay, Departamento de Sistemas Agrarios y Paisajes Culturales, Centro Universitario Regional del Este; Universidad de la República, Uruguay
Laura del Puerto, Departamento de Sistemas Agrarios y Paisajes Culturales, Centro Universitario Regional del Este; Universidad de la República, Uruguay
The consolidation of welfare states in the Global North, driven by modernisation, led to socio-territorial transformations and extractivist practices in the Global South, resulting in significant socio-environmental challenges. The ensuing environmental crisis spurred the creation of international agendas, institutions, and regulations addressing environmental and heritage considerations, albeit not always explicitly. Since the late 20th century, Uruguay has introduced legal instruments incorporating heritage into territorial management. However, these measures remain insufficient to counteract the growing destruction of archaeological sites caused by intensified agricultural production. They nonetheless present opportunities to develop policies and territorial strategies with integrated, relational approaches. The Strategic Plan of the National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) 2025–2035 seeks to integrate heritage into conservation policies. For the first time, it recognises heritage assets as conservation priorities, emphasising collaboration among institutions, civil society, and heritage professionals. With a territorial approach, and landscape serving as both scale and framework, archaeological assets are integrated into the SNAP as a foundation for guiding management and conservation strategies that facilitate the recognition and visibility of the diverse identities within the territory. The possibilities, as well as the challenges and limitations that emerge throughout this process, will be analysed.