Indigenous Landscape Transformations in Colonial Times: PhD Research by Eduardo Herrera Malatesta
When Columbus arrived to the so called “New World” in 1492, the Spaniards initiate a process of familiarization to the land and of contestation of it against the indigenous populations. This was not only a contact period, but a truly clash of worlds! Bohío/La EspañolaBefore the arrival of Europeans the island was known by the indigenous as Bohío. And it was quite an old world for its inhabitants. However, for Spaniards, this “new world” was called La Española, and this re-naming of the land was the first contestation and evidence of a world transformation.
Study of Spatial Practices
One way to study this transformation is to explore human use of space, and the idea of landscape. Understanding landscape as the constant relation between the historical human use of the land and the development of environment. To investigate this, we configure a regional archaeological survey on the Montecristi Province (Northwestern Dominican Republic) and evaluate early colonial cartography and chronicles of the area. During fieldwork in 2014-2015, we register over 100 archaeological sites, and materials that evidence a wide range of human activities and practices. Then, by using archaeological and statistical methods, this data was used to understand the distributional patterns of material culture and settlements on the island. In addition, we explored the relation between these patterns with a set of environmental features to understand the creation of places human movement, and general spatial practices for both the indigenous and the Spaniards.
Thesis Results
This research has allow us to understand 1) the dynamics of movement, the creation of place and different spatial practices which sustain the ways of making the landscape for each group, and 2) the elements that evidence the cultural transformation of landscape along the historical divide of 1492 as a result of this clash of worlds.
Results for Heritage
Additionally, the results of this project are allowing us to use this information to collaborate with other colleagues within the project to create heritage programs sensitive to this historical review, and to open spaces to debate and explore the past with and for today’s population.
By Eduardo Herrera Malatesta