Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology

The Organization of Cuban Archaeology / 47
institute supported Rouse’s archaeological work in the Maniabon Hills of
northeastern Cuba and Osgood’s work at Cayo Redondo in Pinar del Rio.
Their investigations resulted in two publications: Cornelius Osgood’s The
Ciboney Culture of Cayo Redondo, Cuba (1942) and Irving Rouse’s Archaeology
of the Maniabon Hills, Cuba (1942). These works represent the last published
U.S. research effort in Cuba until the 1990s. Their work, and that of their
U.S. predecessors, in®uenced several generations of Cuban archaeologists and
continues to be referenced by contemporary Cuban archaeologists.
ARCHAEOLOGY AFTER THE REVOLUTION
Nationalization
The study of history was an important concern from the onset of the Revolution.
The Revolution drew upon the historical conditions that had created
and perpetuated social inequities, inequities that had also threatened Cuba’s
national identity (Pérez 1999). Jorge Domínguez (1993:96) notes that the linking
to Cuban history was critical in the forging of a new Cuban national
identity distinct from the regime of Fulgencio Batista (batistato). According
to Pérez, “Fidel Castro, the 26 of July Movement, which he led, and other
revolutionary forces that had participated in the revolutionary war, sought to
af¤rm Cuban nationalism. In the symbols used and histories evoked, in the problems
diagnosed and solutions proposed, there was a strong emphasis on enabling
Cubans to take charge of their history” (Pérez 1995:315, italics added). Pérez also
notes that “by attacking the past that had created these hardships, the revolutionary
leadership struck a responsive chord that initially cut across lines of
class and race and served to unite Cubans of almost all political persuasions.
It aroused extraordinary enthusiasm for la revolución and, as ambiguously de-
¤ned as it was, it could mean all things to all people. Aroused too was a
powerful sense of nationalism, one summoned by the revolution and soon
indistinguishable from it” (Pérez 1995:315).
Respect for and pride in the past were clearly evident in early postrevolutionary
government proclamations. In 1959, the Cuban government created
the National Commission for Historical Monuments, which is housed in the
Ministry of Culture. In 1966, the government created the Council of State of
the Republic of Cuba and the National People’s Assembly. The ¤rst two laws
that were approved by the assembly were for the protection and restoration of
historical monuments. The Department of Museums, which oversees the
country’s museums, is also situated in the Ministry of Culture.
With the creation of the Cuban Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1962, or-