Bridging the Gap: Surveying Eighteenth Century Archaeological Evidence in Marine and Riverine Environments of the ‘Plaza de Valdivia’ Jurisdiction, Chile

Abstract

The settlement of Valdivia and its harbor, located on the west coast of South America (Lat. 39°48’S), was of strategic importance for the Spanish Empire. This study aims to explore and visibilize diverse archaeological evidence related to eighteenth century activities presently located in aquatic environments of the ‘Plaza de Valdivia’ jurisdiction. Research was undertaken by combining remote sensing surveys, diverbased operations and digital high-resolution surveys (3D). Archaeological fieldwork was complemented with the examination of museum collections, documentary research and the recovery of local oral traditions from local communities. Surveys conducted made possible the identification and recording of a diverse assemblage of sites and isolated finds. These comprise an assemblage of ordnance, a possible wrecksite, located on the Pacific coast; a small wooden-hulled vessel with artillery ammunition in the Valdivia river; and in Corral bay, structures and elements related with colonial defensive infrastructure affected by coseismic subsidence along a subduction-zone coast.