About the Book
Diverse case studies that explore the
relationship between humans and water environments
This
volume features a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to underwater
and coastal archaeology in Latin America. Showcasing the efforts of 82
researchers working across the region, the case studies in this book point to a
long tradition of practices and beliefs related to the exploitation and
management of aquatic environments, displaying a wide chronological vision that
recognizes the vast and rich precolonial heritage of these waters.
Chapters
on the pre-Hispanic period include an analysis of evidence about the
exploitation of maritime resources, ritual practices related to water,
ancestral navigation, and inundated cultural landscapes, addressing examples
from Mesoamerica, the Central American isthmus, and the Andes. Historical case
studies are also explored, including shipwrecks, harbors, and maritime coastal landscapes
in the Caribbean, on the Atlantic coast, or in Patagonia. The countries represented comprise Mexico, Belize,
Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Venezuela, the
Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.
The
material landscapes of oceans, lakes, and rivers discussed in this volume contribute
to a better understanding of the dynamic relationships between humans and their
environments over time. By integrating the study of behaviors associated with
waterscapes into the interpretations of past and current cultures, this volume
introduces new ways of seeing Latin America.
