Colonization of Paradise: Historical Ecology and Archaeology of El Progreso Plantation, Galápagos (1870–1904)

Summary

Colonization of the Galápagos Islands started soon after Ecuadorian separation from the Gran Colombia in 1830. During this decade the Islands were legally claimed by the Republic of Ecuador and colonization projects started. Exploiting concessions were approved to national and international companies. One of these concessions was assigned to Ecuadorian businessmen Manuel J. Cobos and José Monroy to create an agricultural colony on San Cristóbal Island; 1000 km west from the Ecuadorian coast in the Pacific Ocean. They were able to create and manage an industrial-scale plantation called El Progreso in the highlands of the Island. El Progreso operated for three decades generating significant impacts to both the terrestrial and maritime ecology. In this paper we present what we know about the past social relationships occurring inside the plantation during the second half of the 19th century. During the past years we have been integrating the analysis of historical written records and archaeological remains in order to explore the daily life of the plantation owners and the workers in this remote location.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Formative Influences: A Gathering in Honor of J. Scott Raymond   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15884