The Sociopolitical Landscapes of Hacienda "El Progreso", 1887-1904: Historical Ecology of the Galápagos Islands
Author(s): Fernando Astudillo; Peter Stahl; Florencio Delgado
Year: 2015
Summary
Hacienda El Progreso was one of the largest and most advanced companies of Ecuador during the late 19th century. It covered the southwestern highlands of San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos archipelago. Sugar cane, alcohol, and coffee were the main products exported. As a result, vast areas of the island were deforested to create agricultural parcels and grasslands. During its active years a series of cultural events modified the natural landscape and formed a unique political landscape. Today, the preserved remains of Cobos’ house constitute the only extant heritage site in the Galápagos.
It is believed that Galápagos was unoccupied by humans before its discovery in 1535. Historical Ecology is concerned with an understanding of the effects of initial human activities (Balée 2006). This approach is applied in a study of El Progreso’s history and its resulting ecological effects. This poster presents an overview of the first field season.
Cite this Record
The Sociopolitical Landscapes of Hacienda "El Progreso", 1887-1904: Historical Ecology of the Galápagos Islands. Fernando Astudillo, Peter Stahl, Florencio Delgado. Presented at Society for Historical Archaeology, Seattle, Washington. 2015 ( tDAR id: 434140)
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Keywords
General
Galápagos Islands
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Historical Archaeology
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Sugarcane Plantation
Geographic Keywords
Canada
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North America
Temporal Keywords
1887-1904
Spatial Coverage
min long: -141.003; min lat: 41.684 ; max long: -52.617; max lat: 83.113 ;
Individual & Institutional Roles
Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology
Record Identifiers
PaperId(s): 387