Archaeology in Puerto Rico from 1960 to 1988: A Transition from Amateur to Regulated Archaeology

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In 1952, Puerto Rico began a new era of self-administration. The establishment of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico inspired the creation of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture (1955). The propaganda given to indigenous heritage resulted in the rise of amateur archaeologists. This paper considers the contributions of these groups toward the development of regulated archaeology. Different types of people discovered in amateur archaeology a way to study and connect with their Aboriginal heritage. At that time, the Institute had few staff to monitor these activities. Therefore, decided to create regional cultural centers to link the institution to remote regions. In the sixties, archaeological societies composed of students, professors, and amateurs interested in Puerto Rican prehistory emerged. These groups were dedicated to identifying archaeological sites and creating collections. They advocated for the implementation of ordinances for the protection of archaeological sites. The young people who participated in these groups formed the so-called generation of the seventies, known as the first group of locally trained archaeologists. These were the experts who advocated for local laws and regulations to protect archaeological resources. As a result, in 1988, the Law for the Protection of Terrestrial Archaeological Heritage of Puerto Rico was passed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37612.0