Archaeology and conservation: 19th-century sealers´ material culture in Antarctica

ANDRES ZARANKIN; SENATORE, MARIA XIMENA

Hobart

Encuentro; IPHC Annual Meeting; 2012

Internatonal Polar Heritage Committee

This presentation highlights the contribution of archaeology and conservation to the understanding and preservation of the remains of the early human history in Antarctica. During most of the 19th century, the South Shetland Islands were visited by sealing vessels. Hunters were interested in obtaining large quantities of oil and furs to be sold in different markets. In contrast to written documents, archaeological fieldwork in the South Shetlands has primarily dealt with 19th-century sealers´ camps. The material analysis of these places (including structures and objects) provides insight into sealers´ daily life in a previously unknown territory, and because of that its preservation are a primary target of our project.Here we will present some of the results of our research in Byers Peninsula, on Livingston Island. This area shows the highest concentration of sealers? camps in the entire continent. Our intention is to present and discuss sealers? remains and what are we doing with the collections we are digging.