Archaeological Training at a Former Illegal Detention Centre (1976–1983), in Buenos Aires, Argentina: Social Memory, Commitment, and Archaeological Education

Abstract

In this paper we present the archaeological training that archaeology undergraduate students of the University of Buenos Aires performed at a former illegal detention centre from the Argentinian dictatorship, the Espacio para la Memoria y la Promoción de los DDHH ex-Centro Clandestino de Detención Tortura y Exterminio ‘Club Atlético’ (Memorial Site for the Advancement of Human Rights, Former Illegal Detention, Torture and Extermination Centre ‘Athletic Club’) between 2016 and 2019. After contextualizing the development of archaeology teaching at the university level in Buenos Aires and the archaeological research at an illegal detention centre from the dictatorship, we present the results of this training to show how approaching archaeological topics in a way that is historically, politically, and physically closer to the students helped them to incorporate fieldwork and lab issues in a committed and meaningful way.