Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology

96 / Linville
ample, during the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the SEC, the
organization honored the many Cubans who had over the years served as local
guides for cave investigations throughout the country (Núñez Jiménez 1990).
It is fortunate that in Cuba the sense of national pride, or patria, that has
been identi¤ed in publications on Cuban archaeology (Davis 1996) extends to
the general population. Indeed, the Cuban people broadly support the efforts
of the Fundación de la Naturaleza y el Hombre, established by Núñez
Jiménez, to continue to achieve the goals de¤ned long ago by the young
founders of the SEC. Among them is the conservation and celebration of the
nation’s cultural patrimony located in caves.
CONCLUSION
For more than half a century, researchers throughout Cuba have participated
in interdisciplinary research efforts that have contributed to the steady accumulation
of knowledge of Cuba’s caves and rock shelters. Among them are
archaeologists and physical anthropologists who have meticulously recorded
contextual data for the cultural expressions found on rock walls. Together,
they continue to update and re¤ne the considerable data that provided the
basis for the 1975 publication by Núñez Jiménez, Cuba: Dibujos rupestres,
which, after more than a quarter of a century, remains the most comprehensive
assessment of Cuban rock art sites ever published (La Rosa Corzo 1994).
As new theories emerge to guide rock art research, the substantial contributions
to our knowledge of Cuban rock art by Núñez Jiménez, Rivero de la
Calle, Dacal Moure, and other members of the SEC will continue to provide
the foundation for future efforts to understand not only the images painted
onto, incised into, or sculpted out of stone but also the cultural context of
those who left these enduring transformations on the Cuban landscape.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
With fond memories and an enormous sense of gratitude, I dedicate this
work to my friend and colleague, the late Dr. Manuel Rivero de la Calle,
whose humanity, academic generosity and sense of humor I will never forget.
In addition to sharing his extensive knowledge of Cuban archaeology,
Dr. Rivero also introduced me to his longtime friend and colleague, the late
Ramón Dacal Moure, whose friendship and incalculable efforts on my behalf