Isla de los Muertos: mito y realidad
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2000
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El cementerio de la Isla de los Muertos, en las cercanías de la actual Caleta Tortel (desembocadura del Baker. XI Región) ha motivado diversas historias acerca del evento de mortandad masiva que llevó a su creación. Combinando métodos históricos y arqueológicos, se intenta evaluar las diferentes versiones. Aunque el objeto de investigación puede parecer en sí poco «arqueológico», nos ha sido de gran utilidad abordar el problema con una sistematicidad y un diseño de investigación claramente arqueológicos (ej. ordenar hipótesis en un esquema de flujo procesual, definiendo el evento objetivo y la historia de transformaciones post-depositacionales y poniendo a prueba las implicancias documentales y materiales de cada hipotética acción). Por otra parte, los hallazgos arqueológicos han contribuido no sólo a reforzar la fecha de 1906 propuesta para este evento (ej. botones de porcelana), sino que han confirmado que no se trató de una mortandad simultánea (féretros y entierros cuidadosos). Esta y otras observaciones respaldan la idea de un envenenamiento accidental o de una hambruna. El análisis crítico de las versiones en su contexto psicológico e histórico social, nos lleva a concluir que tanto el número de muertos como la motivación homicida han sido exageradas.
The historical cementery of «Isla de los Muertos», near the present-day town of Caleta Tortel (lower Baker river, XI Region) has triggered the coinage and spread of several versions that explain the circumstances of the massive death event that led to its formation. In this article, we attempt a systematic evaluation of these versions by means of historical and archaeological methods. Although the focus of our research may not seem typically «archaeological», the systematic usage of archaeological reasoning and research design (ie. use of a «flux-diagram» to schematically order the different hypothesis and to test the material and documental implications of each of them) has been of utmost utility. The few archaeological finds (ie. porcelain buttons) backs the dating of this event towards 1906. An even more important result of the archaeological dig was the recording of a coffin and other subterranean stuctures that reflect a relatively long death event (as required for careful burials). This and other observations suggest that the main cause of the massive deaths at Isla de los Muertos cementery was starvation or accidental poisoning. The critical analysis of the different versions in their socio-historical and psychological context suggest that both the number of dead people and the criminal motivations behind this event have been exaggerated.
The historical cementery of «Isla de los Muertos», near the present-day town of Caleta Tortel (lower Baker river, XI Region) has triggered the coinage and spread of several versions that explain the circumstances of the massive death event that led to its formation. In this article, we attempt a systematic evaluation of these versions by means of historical and archaeological methods. Although the focus of our research may not seem typically «archaeological», the systematic usage of archaeological reasoning and research design (ie. use of a «flux-diagram» to schematically order the different hypothesis and to test the material and documental implications of each of them) has been of utmost utility. The few archaeological finds (ie. porcelain buttons) backs the dating of this event towards 1906. An even more important result of the archaeological dig was the recording of a coffin and other subterranean stuctures that reflect a relatively long death event (as required for careful burials). This and other observations suggest that the main cause of the massive deaths at Isla de los Muertos cementery was starvation or accidental poisoning. The critical analysis of the different versions in their socio-historical and psychological context suggest that both the number of dead people and the criminal motivations behind this event have been exaggerated.
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Isla de los Muertos
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Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia, Vol. 28, pp. 53-72, 2000.