Archaeology, heritage and development in two South American colonial sites: the Guarani-Jesuit Missions (1610 - 1767)

MARÍA VICTORIA ROCA

Mar Muerto

Congreso; WAC 7 (7 World Archaeological Congress); 2013

WAC

Santa Ana and San Ignacio Miní were two of the thirty Guarani missions founded and administrated by the religious people from the Jesus Company in the old Province of Paraguay, as part of their settlement in colonial South America (17thand 18thcenturies). Different processes turned these reductions into ruins, and since 1984, they are inscribed at UNESCO´s World Heritage List. In this paper we will analyze progresses and difficulties related to the development and participation of the local communities. We will focus on the process occurred during the recent restoration of value of both sites.