Florencio G Delgado Espinoza | Universidad San Francisco de Quito (original) (raw)

Papers by Florencio G Delgado Espinoza

Research paper thumbnail of When the Archaeologists Leave

Advances in Archaeological Practice, Jul 3, 2023

The Hacienda El Progreso functioned as an important Ecuadorian agro-industrial enterprise in the ... more The Hacienda El Progreso functioned as an important Ecuadorian agro-industrial enterprise in the late nineteenth century. Operating out of San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos archipelago, the plantation exported refined sugar, coffee, cattle products, and other goods to national and international markets. From its beginnings in the 1860s, the plantation established the first permanent human settlement on the island, and long after its demise in the 1930s, it continues to exert an important influence in local culture. Contemporary communities of San Cristóbal are shaping their identities based on the historical importance of the hacienda. The summer of 2018 was our last field season. From its start, the Historical Ecology of the Galápagos Islands project involved close participation with communal authorities and town leaders to investigate the island's human past. In this article, we discuss legacy and services of our project in the contemporary setting of Galápagos. We examine the relevance and contributions of our project to education, heritage policies, and the local economy. We discuss lessons learned from interactions and collaborations between archaeologists and the local community, and we evaluate the consequences of implementing an archaeological project on a remote environmental sanctuary where interest in human history can collide with the agendas of nature conservation and a lucrative ecotourism industry.

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption and Control in the Material Culture of Hacienda El Progreso

University Press of Florida eBooks, Feb 25, 2020

This chapter presents the material culture recovered from Hacienda El Progreso midden contexts wi... more 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.

Research paper thumbnail of Island Production for Global and Local Consumption

University Press of Florida eBooks, Feb 25, 2020

This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excava... more This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excavation areas, phytolith sampling columns, and preserved infrastructure from the hacienda’s buildings and sugar mill are described and contextualized. Zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical identifications and analyses are described as they pertain to agriculture, sugar production, cattle ranching, animal exploitation, exportation, and landscape transformation. Historic and modern landscape transformations are visually presented through time via repeat photography.

Research paper thumbnail of Ecuador, Republic of

Research paper thumbnail of Ecuador, Republic of

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Ecology and Archaeology on the Galápagos Islands

The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Acercándose al pasado, una aproximación arqueológica al programa de vinculación

Esferas

Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habit... more Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habita el valle del río Coaque, son parte del mundo cotidiano de estas comunidades. La tradición oral de la población está llena de historias sobre el encuentro de material cultural, tales como vasijas y sobre todo figurines de cerámica con diversos tamaños y modelos, definidos localmente como muñecas. Tradicionalmente, muchos miembros de la población se dedicaban a vender los objetos tanto a personas nacionales como extranjeras; esta práctica no cesó con el Decreto N.º 2600 del Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural en 1978 (Consejo Supremo de Gobierno, 1978), que prohibía la excavación sin permiso. De hecho, cuando los problemas económicos son graves, la excavación para la venta se ha mantenido. Desde 2015, el proyecto de arqueología comunitaria en el valle del río Coaque permite la interacción entre la academia, representada por profesores, estudiantes de Arqueología de la Universidad S...

Research paper thumbnail of Acercándose al pasado, una aproximación arqueológica al programa de vinculación

Esferas

Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habit... more Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habita el valle del río Coaque, son parte del mundo cotidiano de estas comunidades. La tradición oral de la población está llena de historias sobre el encuentro de material cultural, tales como vasijas y sobre todo figurines de cerámica con diversos tamaños y modelos, definidos localmente como muñecas. Tradicionalmente, muchos miembros de la población se dedicaban a vender los objetos tanto a personas nacionales como extranjeras; esta práctica no cesó con el Decreto N.º 2600 del Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural en 1978 (Consejo Supremo de Gobierno, 1978), que prohibía la excavación sin permiso. De hecho, cuando los problemas económicos son graves, la excavación para la venta se ha mantenido. Desde 2015, el proyecto de arqueología comunitaria en el valle del río Coaque permite la interacción entre la academia, representada por profesores, estudiantes de Arqueología de la Universidad S...

Research paper thumbnail of Champagne and Angostura Bitters: Entertaining at a Galapagos Sugar Plantation, 1880-1904

Society for Historical Archaeology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Island Production for Global and Local Consumption

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excava... more This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excavation areas, phytolith sampling columns, and preserved infrastructure from the hacienda’s buildings and sugar mill are described and contextualized. Zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical identifications and analyses are described as they pertain to agriculture, sugar production, cattle ranching, animal exploitation, exportation, and landscape transformation. Historic and modern landscape transformations are visually presented through time via repeat photography.

Research paper thumbnail of Guía de Ecoruta Sumaco

Research paper thumbnail of Guía EcoRuta - Paseo de Quinde

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption and Control in the Material Culture of Hacienda El Progreso

Research paper thumbnail of Galápagos, San Cristóbal, El Progreso, and Colonos in a Changing World

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter summarizes the human history of Galápagos and its legacy in the contemporary context... more 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.

Research paper thumbnail of Climate Change, Food Sovereignty, and Ancestral Farming Technologies in the Andes

Current Developments in Nutrition, 2020

Indigenous people are among the populations most vulnerable to climate change. However, indigenou... more Indigenous people are among the populations most vulnerable to climate change. However, indigenous societies' potential contributions to addressing climate change and related issues of food security are vast but poorly recognized. The objective of this report is to inform the nutrition and public health communities about the potential contributions of ancient Andean technologies to address these contemporary challenges. Our research examines these ancient farming technologies within the frame of climate change and dietary potential. Specifically, we focus on 4 technologies derived from 3 case studies from Ecuador. These technologies were analyzed using evidence mainly of adaptation to climate change in indigenous-based agriculture. Our examination of these technologies suggests they could be effective mechanisms for adapting to climate change and protecting food sovereignty. Thus, although highly vulnerable to climate change, indigenous peoples in the Andes should also be seen a...

Research paper thumbnail of Humans Encounter Galápagos

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter summarizes major events that occurred throughout an almost 500-year relationship bet... more This chapter summarizes major events that occurred throughout an almost 500-year relationship between humans and Galápagos. Specific attention focuses on how the changing interests of humans in the islands contributed to ecosystemic landscape transformation up to the end of the Second World War. The chapter historically contextualizes the nature of the changes that transpired through direct human interaction with relatively recently encountered island ecosystems, and how this interconnected relationship shifted through time within the context of changing political and economic circumstances. It sequentially details alleged pre-Columbian visitation, early and later colonial human encounters, Republican-period colonization, and early twentieth century activities in the archipelago. The current human geography in Galápagos is briefly described, followed by a discussion of landscape transformation and invasive exotic organisms throughout the archipelago.

Research paper thumbnail of Homenaje a Donald Jackson

Research paper thumbnail of Guía de la Ecoruta Sumaco

Portada y contraportada: Theofilos Toulkeridis (foto laguna ecoruta), Ramiro Porras (foto volcán ... more Portada y contraportada: Theofilos Toulkeridis (foto laguna ecoruta), Ramiro Porras (foto volcán Sumaco, portada y contraportada), Xavier Silva (foto mariposa), Andrés León-Reyes (foto ranita, indígenas, y huevos), Florencio Delgado (foto roca antigua).

Research paper thumbnail of Archaeology, biogeography, and mammalogy do not provide evidence for tarukas (Cervidae: Hippocamelus antisensis ) in Ecuador

Journal of Mammalogy, 2015

Knowing whether a species has been extirpated, or if it ever inhabited a specific geographic area... more Knowing whether a species has been extirpated, or if it ever inhabited a specific geographic area, has direct importance for planning conservation activities. The taruka ( Hippocamelus antisensis ) is one of the largest Neotropical mammals; it is distributed in the central Andes, and there are published records of this species in Ecuador. Recently, missing museum specimens have cast doubts on the validity of these Ecuadorian records. Here, we examine whether the taruka ever inhabited Ecuador by analyzing multiple sources of information. Our approach consists of 3 components: 1) we surveyed archaeological collections and literature for any biological remains and cultural artifacts that may represent tarukas, 2) we searched mammal collections for specimens reported in publications, and 3) we generated ecological niche models (ENMs) of current and past climates to determine whether Ecuador offers suitable habitats for the taruka. Our results suggest that the taruka never inhabited Ecua...

Research paper thumbnail of Manuel J. Cobos, San Cristóbal, and the Hacienda El Progreso

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of When the Archaeologists Leave

Advances in Archaeological Practice, Jul 3, 2023

The Hacienda El Progreso functioned as an important Ecuadorian agro-industrial enterprise in the ... more The Hacienda El Progreso functioned as an important Ecuadorian agro-industrial enterprise in the late nineteenth century. Operating out of San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos archipelago, the plantation exported refined sugar, coffee, cattle products, and other goods to national and international markets. From its beginnings in the 1860s, the plantation established the first permanent human settlement on the island, and long after its demise in the 1930s, it continues to exert an important influence in local culture. Contemporary communities of San Cristóbal are shaping their identities based on the historical importance of the hacienda. The summer of 2018 was our last field season. From its start, the Historical Ecology of the Galápagos Islands project involved close participation with communal authorities and town leaders to investigate the island's human past. In this article, we discuss legacy and services of our project in the contemporary setting of Galápagos. We examine the relevance and contributions of our project to education, heritage policies, and the local economy. We discuss lessons learned from interactions and collaborations between archaeologists and the local community, and we evaluate the consequences of implementing an archaeological project on a remote environmental sanctuary where interest in human history can collide with the agendas of nature conservation and a lucrative ecotourism industry.

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption and Control in the Material Culture of Hacienda El Progreso

University Press of Florida eBooks, Feb 25, 2020

This chapter presents the material culture recovered from Hacienda El Progreso midden contexts wi... more 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.

Research paper thumbnail of Island Production for Global and Local Consumption

University Press of Florida eBooks, Feb 25, 2020

This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excava... more This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excavation areas, phytolith sampling columns, and preserved infrastructure from the hacienda’s buildings and sugar mill are described and contextualized. Zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical identifications and analyses are described as they pertain to agriculture, sugar production, cattle ranching, animal exploitation, exportation, and landscape transformation. Historic and modern landscape transformations are visually presented through time via repeat photography.

Research paper thumbnail of Ecuador, Republic of

Research paper thumbnail of Ecuador, Republic of

Research paper thumbnail of Historical Ecology and Archaeology on the Galápagos Islands

The 80th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Acercándose al pasado, una aproximación arqueológica al programa de vinculación

Esferas

Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habit... more Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habita el valle del río Coaque, son parte del mundo cotidiano de estas comunidades. La tradición oral de la población está llena de historias sobre el encuentro de material cultural, tales como vasijas y sobre todo figurines de cerámica con diversos tamaños y modelos, definidos localmente como muñecas. Tradicionalmente, muchos miembros de la población se dedicaban a vender los objetos tanto a personas nacionales como extranjeras; esta práctica no cesó con el Decreto N.º 2600 del Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural en 1978 (Consejo Supremo de Gobierno, 1978), que prohibía la excavación sin permiso. De hecho, cuando los problemas económicos son graves, la excavación para la venta se ha mantenido. Desde 2015, el proyecto de arqueología comunitaria en el valle del río Coaque permite la interacción entre la academia, representada por profesores, estudiantes de Arqueología de la Universidad S...

Research paper thumbnail of Acercándose al pasado, una aproximación arqueológica al programa de vinculación

Esferas

Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habit... more Los “mocarros”, nombre dado a los artefactos arqueológicos encontrados por la población que habita el valle del río Coaque, son parte del mundo cotidiano de estas comunidades. La tradición oral de la población está llena de historias sobre el encuentro de material cultural, tales como vasijas y sobre todo figurines de cerámica con diversos tamaños y modelos, definidos localmente como muñecas. Tradicionalmente, muchos miembros de la población se dedicaban a vender los objetos tanto a personas nacionales como extranjeras; esta práctica no cesó con el Decreto N.º 2600 del Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural en 1978 (Consejo Supremo de Gobierno, 1978), que prohibía la excavación sin permiso. De hecho, cuando los problemas económicos son graves, la excavación para la venta se ha mantenido. Desde 2015, el proyecto de arqueología comunitaria en el valle del río Coaque permite la interacción entre la academia, representada por profesores, estudiantes de Arqueología de la Universidad S...

Research paper thumbnail of Champagne and Angostura Bitters: Entertaining at a Galapagos Sugar Plantation, 1880-1904

Society for Historical Archaeology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Island Production for Global and Local Consumption

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excava... more This chapter describes archaeological investigations of the historic Hacienda El Progreso. Excavation areas, phytolith sampling columns, and preserved infrastructure from the hacienda’s buildings and sugar mill are described and contextualized. Zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical identifications and analyses are described as they pertain to agriculture, sugar production, cattle ranching, animal exploitation, exportation, and landscape transformation. Historic and modern landscape transformations are visually presented through time via repeat photography.

Research paper thumbnail of Guía de Ecoruta Sumaco

Research paper thumbnail of Guía EcoRuta - Paseo de Quinde

Research paper thumbnail of Consumption and Control in the Material Culture of Hacienda El Progreso

Research paper thumbnail of Galápagos, San Cristóbal, El Progreso, and Colonos in a Changing World

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter summarizes the human history of Galápagos and its legacy in the contemporary context... more 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.

Research paper thumbnail of Climate Change, Food Sovereignty, and Ancestral Farming Technologies in the Andes

Current Developments in Nutrition, 2020

Indigenous people are among the populations most vulnerable to climate change. However, indigenou... more Indigenous people are among the populations most vulnerable to climate change. However, indigenous societies' potential contributions to addressing climate change and related issues of food security are vast but poorly recognized. The objective of this report is to inform the nutrition and public health communities about the potential contributions of ancient Andean technologies to address these contemporary challenges. Our research examines these ancient farming technologies within the frame of climate change and dietary potential. Specifically, we focus on 4 technologies derived from 3 case studies from Ecuador. These technologies were analyzed using evidence mainly of adaptation to climate change in indigenous-based agriculture. Our examination of these technologies suggests they could be effective mechanisms for adapting to climate change and protecting food sovereignty. Thus, although highly vulnerable to climate change, indigenous peoples in the Andes should also be seen a...

Research paper thumbnail of Humans Encounter Galápagos

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020

This chapter summarizes major events that occurred throughout an almost 500-year relationship bet... more This chapter summarizes major events that occurred throughout an almost 500-year relationship between humans and Galápagos. Specific attention focuses on how the changing interests of humans in the islands contributed to ecosystemic landscape transformation up to the end of the Second World War. The chapter historically contextualizes the nature of the changes that transpired through direct human interaction with relatively recently encountered island ecosystems, and how this interconnected relationship shifted through time within the context of changing political and economic circumstances. It sequentially details alleged pre-Columbian visitation, early and later colonial human encounters, Republican-period colonization, and early twentieth century activities in the archipelago. The current human geography in Galápagos is briefly described, followed by a discussion of landscape transformation and invasive exotic organisms throughout the archipelago.

Research paper thumbnail of Homenaje a Donald Jackson

Research paper thumbnail of Guía de la Ecoruta Sumaco

Portada y contraportada: Theofilos Toulkeridis (foto laguna ecoruta), Ramiro Porras (foto volcán ... more Portada y contraportada: Theofilos Toulkeridis (foto laguna ecoruta), Ramiro Porras (foto volcán Sumaco, portada y contraportada), Xavier Silva (foto mariposa), Andrés León-Reyes (foto ranita, indígenas, y huevos), Florencio Delgado (foto roca antigua).

Research paper thumbnail of Archaeology, biogeography, and mammalogy do not provide evidence for tarukas (Cervidae: Hippocamelus antisensis ) in Ecuador

Journal of Mammalogy, 2015

Knowing whether a species has been extirpated, or if it ever inhabited a specific geographic area... more Knowing whether a species has been extirpated, or if it ever inhabited a specific geographic area, has direct importance for planning conservation activities. The taruka ( Hippocamelus antisensis ) is one of the largest Neotropical mammals; it is distributed in the central Andes, and there are published records of this species in Ecuador. Recently, missing museum specimens have cast doubts on the validity of these Ecuadorian records. Here, we examine whether the taruka ever inhabited Ecuador by analyzing multiple sources of information. Our approach consists of 3 components: 1) we surveyed archaeological collections and literature for any biological remains and cultural artifacts that may represent tarukas, 2) we searched mammal collections for specimens reported in publications, and 3) we generated ecological niche models (ENMs) of current and past climates to determine whether Ecuador offers suitable habitats for the taruka. Our results suggest that the taruka never inhabited Ecua...

Research paper thumbnail of Manuel J. Cobos, San Cristóbal, and the Hacienda El Progreso

Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands, 2020