RESCUING THE PAST:

SALVAGE ARCHEOLOGY AS AN INSTRUMENT

FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

 

(Rescatando el pasado: La arqueología de rescate como un instrumento para la investigación)

 

Héctor E. Mejía

(Transportadora de Energía de Centroamérica, TRECSA)

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We are currently witnessing how scientific advances are changing the traditional view of archaeology. Biochemical analysis, photogrammetry, and LiDAR studies are now revolutionizing the ways of exploring and interpreting archaeological contexts. In addition to such “academic changes,” the protection of cultural heritage is now another complex issue for archaeology. Modern urbanism, industrial development, agricultural expansion, and economic progress are some of the entanglements and latent threats to ancient cultural contexts nowadays. 

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This talk will show how archaeology must be transformed in this era of continuous change. We are now required to establish new strategies and techniques so archaeology can coexist with urban and rural development. In addition, implementing new research and protection schemes could prove the true merits of salvage archaeological programs, perhaps the most common way of archaeology today, in the growing trend of “New” archaeology.

 

(Talk in Spanish)