Archaeology Goes Ahead in Los Buchillones PDF Imprimir E-mail
Por Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez (student of Journalism)| Jueves, 11 de Febrero de 2010 08:04
"Unique findings, regarding all the Antilles areas, have taken place here", as pointed out by América Santos Rivera, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment, during the inauguration of the civil works carried out in the research area of Los Buchillones Archaeological Site, located in the province of Ciego de Ávila.

The area is of critical importance to retrieve the history of aboriginal communities, both agricultural and ceramist. So far two research studies have been conducted on the area by national and international scientific institutions.

The first study stage went from 1995 to 2001 and involved the Ontario Royal Museum of Canada, while the second study stage, from 2003 to 2005, had the cooperation of the Institute of Archaeology of the London University.

So far the researchers have found the remains of several wood constructions, pieces of palm leaf roofs as well as main and lateral shafts, among other items belonging to those primitive houses.

Besides, 254 wooden objects for domestic and ritual use have been found which show the high economic and cultural level of the aboriginal groups. The number of wooden items is higher than the total of pieces found all over the Caribbean.

During the inauguration of the Research Station mention was made of Dr. Jorge Calvera Rosés the outstanding Avilanian Scientist who has received a great number of important awards both academical and governmental.

According to Calvera, the pieces date back to 1 200 up to 1600, which fact claims for a revisitation of the history. On one hand some pieces belong to a time when it was believed that the aboriginal did not exist yet, and on the other some pieces show distinctive features of the Hispanic culture.

Calvera also expressed that the research zone stretches for almost un kilometer and half, out of which only 10 percent has been explored, which explains the need for a coming collaboration between the University of Leicester, England and the Cuban Ministry of Science to give continuity to the studies.

The construction of the Research Station at Los Buchillones has also brought about its social impact on the zone. Most of the workers and specialists of the new facility are local residents from either Punta Alegre or Máximo Gómez.