Towards an Archaeology of the Japanese Immigration to Peru

Summary

The first evidence of culture contact between Japan and Peru can be traced back to the 16th century. Although the Japanese immigration did not start officially until 1899 with the arrival of the ship Sakura Maru to the Peruvian coast, the earlier presence of 20 indios de Xapón (indians from Japan) was recorded in 1613. This immigration process has been often studied by historians, and the situation of their descendants has been analyzed by anthropologists and sociologists. However, there are almost no studies about the material culture that resulted from such process. Archaeologists, usually focused on prehispanic cultures, have devoted significantly less attention to more recent periods. In this presentation, we will introduce several lines of research about the Japanese immigration to Peru that can be approached through archaeology, and how a new generation of archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians are developing innovative approaches to this topic in Peru. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Critical Mass: The Emerging Field of Japanese Diaspora Archaeology   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 481