Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands explores human history in the Galápagos Islands, which is today one of the world’s premier nature attractions. From its early beginnings, the Galápagos National Park connected a dual vision of biological conservation with responsible tourism. However, despite its popular perception as a pristine nature park, the archipelago has experienced protracted interactions with humans at least since its accidental discovery in 1535. This book contextualizes six years of interdisciplinary archaeological and historical research on San Cristóbal, the easternmost island in the archipelago. It focuses on the interior highland community of El Progreso and specifically the preserved vestiges of a 19th-century sugar plantation, the Hacienda El Progreso, which left the most intensive historic footprint of human activity in the islands. It did not do this alone, as other islands, particularly those with potable water sources, were varyingly impacted by human encounters. Proceeding within a framework of Historical Ecology, the book integrates archaeological research with historical and ecological study and incorporates three interconnected perspectives: 1. globalization and the increasing integration of the islands into an expanding network of human interests; 2. anthropogenic transformation of distinctive island habitats into novel or emerging ecosystems; and, 3. changing popular and scientific perceptions of nature and ecotourism’s role in biological conservation, preservation, and restoration.
This chapter describes the historic Hacienda El Progreso and its evolution into an industrial-scale sugar plantation and extensive cattle ranch, particularly after its founding visionary, Manuel J. Cobos, returned to San Cristóbal Island in 1879. The island’s climate, vegetation, and contemporary human population are introduced with particular attention on the highland village of El Progreso, the historic hacienda’s namesake. The chapter details the transformation of island landscapes through historic descriptions of the hacienda’s expanding holdings, infrastructure, and human population. Further historic descriptions of Hacienda El Progreso after Cobos’ assassination by his workers in 1904 track its waning fortunes and eventual fate into the 1960s.
This chapter presents the material culture recovered from Hacienda El Progreso midden contexts within the broader perspective of Latin America’s participation in the global market during the later nineteenth century. Two distinct aspects of the imported manufactured goods are suggested: (1) consumption to project a modern image; and (2) technologies used to control the hacienda’s landscape and its workers. Archaeological contexts are described, and the preserved assemblage, including armaments, actuarial implements, money, fencing, alcohol containers, tableware, sewing instruments, toys, and medicaments, are analyzed and contextualized. Consumer choices made by Cobos reflect the consumption habits of a coastal Ecuadorian planter class that were transported to a remote location in time and space.
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This chapter summarizes the human history of Galápagos and its legacy in the contemporary context of a protected natural area and popular destination for conservation tourism. The recent history of contemporary human residents of the island is examined from Cobos’s death in 1904 through the growth of conservation and ecotourism after the Second World War. The direct and indirect impacts of the current situation on local resources and resident populations, and the responses of islanders and governments to them, are discussed. Consideration is given to the future of Galapagueño culture as the islands transition from a production-based economy to one based on services, especially tourism.
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