Dialogues in Cuban Archaeology

The Organization of Cuban Archaeology / 55
3.5. Entrance to Centro de Antropología, Havana, Cuba. Photograph by Mary Jane Berman.
burial site thus far excavated in the Caribbean and is a national monument.
Trinidad’s Museo de Arqueología y Ciencias Naturales, located in an elegant
old mansion on the southwest corner of the main plaza, contains taxidermy
examples of Cuban ®ora and fauna and exhibits that chronicle the evolution
of Cuba’s aboriginal cultures. There is a Museo de Arqueología in Sancti
Spiritus. Formally trained archaeologists staff these institutions. Many municipal
museums whose missions are more general also have formally trained
professionals. For a period of time the Capitolio housed the Cuban Academy
of Sciences, but it was closed in 1996. Its re-creation of the famous Punta del
Este cave that featured depictions of the pictographs painted by artist José
Martínez were removed.
Avocational groups located throughout the country contribute signi¤cantly
to the work of professionals (Fernández Leiva 1992:38). Their involvement
further re®ects the democratization of archaeology. Once perceived
as an elite avocation, today everyone has the potential to participate in recovering
and constructing the nation’s patrimony and to assist professionally
trained archaeologists. Avocational archaeologists have recorded the location
of many sites and provided data about site size and occupation. Much of these