Archaeological impact studies: a reflection on an experience in the Salado River, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Abstract

Archaeological impact assessment is a fundamental tool for heritage conservation in the context of activities involving earthwork. In Latin America, this professional practice strengthened during the last decades of the 20th century. Its implementation involves tensions and agreements between different actors: inhabitants, landowners, companies, government agencies, international credit organizations, and diverse professionals. This has provoked a series of disciplinary debates regarding the role of Archaeology in development projects. In this paper, we present the case of the Salado River Integrated Master Plan, a large-scale project covering a total area of 170,000 km2, that has been underway for more than two decades in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a territory where an extensive settlement process ? more than 2000 years long? took place. In the late 1990s, the PMI was designed to protect the environmental and economic value of the basin, to improve the drainage network and to mitigate the effects of floods and droughts. Its execution was planned in stages involving different infrastructure developments that resulted in significant alterations of the river landscape, affecting the archaeological heritage of the area. We present our own experience, both before and after carrying out archaeological impact studies, as well as the methodology applied, and the results obtained. From this case study, we highlight the importance of integrating the resulting information with that of pre-existing research projects. We also reflect on the achievements and difficulties of heritage management.