Metal shipwrecks in Patagonia, Argentina: contributions to their research and management

Abstract

While iron and steamship archaeology dates from the mid-1970s, the archaeological study of late 19th and early 20th century metal-hulled vessels, especially those off the coast of South America is in its infancy. This paper deals with two steel-hulled shipwrecks located on the coast of Patagonia, southern Argentina, from anthropological, archaeological, and site management perspectives. The chief research questions discussed relate to each vessel's role and use on a remote coast, the technology involved in their operation, and the site formation processes following the vessels’ loss. Their management as a recently acknowledged part of the region's ‘patrimony’ (cultural heritage) and their presentation to an increasingly aware public are also discussed in the context of each site's unique location.