Cultural Heritage in the Dominican Republic: Archaeology, Management, and Innovation

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Documents
  • The 1725 Nuestra Señora de Begoña: Ongoing Investigations of a Spanish Merchant Fragata and Cultural Conservation Strategies in La Caleta de Caucedo, Dominican Republic (2013)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Matthew J Maus. Charles D Beeker.

    On 21 May 1725 the Spanish merchant vessel Nuestra Señora de Begoña wrecked in La Caleta de Caucedo on the south coast of Hispaniola.  While there was no loss of life, contemporary legal texts pertaining to the sinking event document the complete loss of ship and cargo, ineffective salvage efforts, and the conviction of its captain for contraband silver.  Indiana University has conducted excavations of the shoreward spillage area of the Nuestra Señora de Begoña since 2010.  Preliminary findings...

  • Going Green: Using Environmental Protections to Safeguard the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2013)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Barry Bleichner.

    The Caribbean Sea is host to a significant number of colonial-era wrecks and has historically been a prime hunting spot for commercial salvors.  Frequently, salvage of this underwater cultural heritage (UCH) occurred with the blessing of the governing authority or was implicitly endorsed by the courts determining proprietary rights.  Many wrecks are located in ecologically-sensitive areas, however, or serve as substrate for the growth of new underwater habitat.  As such, the wreck sites may...

  • Museums and Archaeology: Creating Partnerships to Engage Families and Children (2013)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Christina M O'Grady.

    The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis created the "Treasures of the Earth" exhibit to engage children and families in the world of archaeology.  Museum staff worked closely with archaeologist advisors to produce recreations  of three distinct archaeological "sites", the tomb of Seti I in Egypt, the terra cotta warriors of China, and the underwater remains of an 18th century Caribbean shipwreck.  Artifacts and activities in each area convey the sense of discovery that drives archaeology while...

  • Real Pirates of the Caribbean: Archaeological Interpretation of Captain Kidd and Captain Morgan’s Shipwrecks (2013)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Frederick Hanselmann.

    Pirates have long captured our collective imaginations, yet very little concrete evidence has been observed in the archaeological record.  In recent years, a number of projects have studied and searched for the remains of ships that belonged to some of history’s most infamous pirates, including Captain William Kidd and Captain Henry Morgan.  As these ships were part of the budding globalization during  the 17th century, the subsequent interpretation of these sites includes placing them in the...

  • Talegas and Hoards: The Archaeological Signature of Contraband on a 1725 Spanish Merchant Vessel (2013)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only John W. Foster. Anna Rogers.

    Nuestra Señora de Begoña, a Spanish merchant vessel bound from Caracas to Tenerife, was wrecked at La Caleta in the Dominican Republic in 1725. An investigation of the incident resulted in charges being brought against Captain Don Theodoro de Salazar and his conviction of silver smuggling. Contemporary salvage of the Begoña cargo was only partially successful, but some 21,000 pesos in silver were recovered including "six talegas found under the captian's bed."  Only 8,761 pesos were...