Dolores Elkin
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Dolores (Loli) Elkin is an Argentinean archaeologist graduated from the University of Buenos Aires with a Licenciatura degree in 1988 and a Doctoral degree in 1996. She is a Researcher of CONICET (Argentina´s National Research Council), working since 1996 as the Director of the Underwater Archaeology Program at the National Institute of Anthropology. She has been Professor of Archaeology at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of the Central Province of Buenos Aires. Her field experience, both in land and underwater archaeology, includes the participation in or direction of about 40 seasons in Argentina and abroad. She is the director of two projects in Patagonia, Southern Argentina, involving the research and/or management of a number of shipwrecks from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. She has more than 40 publications including scientific papers, book chapters and articles. She has organized and participated in many national and international scientific meetings and is affiliated with several organizations. Between 1998-2002 she represented her country on various occasions as a member of the government delegation for the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. Why I got into underwater archaeology I had never dreamt of becoming a maritime archaeologist. Moreover, my initial specialty was desert, high altitude archaeology, and for about a decade I worked on prehistoric sites in the Andes Mountains of South America. Three people are responsible for my radical shift into maritime, underwater and historical archaeology. One is Architect Cristian Murray, who I met by chance in the early 90´s. He told me about an 18th century shipwreck in Patagonia, the HMS Swift, immediately triggering my interest in getting involved with this site. The second is Pilar Luna (definitely my mentor) who encouraged me to use my existing archaeological experience, learn to dive, and begin to develop maritime archaeology in Argentina. The third is Diana Rolandi, director of the National Institute of Anthropology, who said “yes” to my request for institutional support to create a new area in underwater archaeology. My favorite quote Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Even the longest walk starts with one step. About the Underwater Archaeology Program of the National Institute of Anthropology. Argentina. www.inapl-gov.ar/invest/arqueosub.htm The program was created in December 1995 with the main goals of working on the research, legal protection, management and education relating to Argentina´s underwater cultural heritage. The program´s main research project consists of the study of the above mentioned HMS Swift. More recently other shipwrecks, such as the 17th century Dutch vessel Hoorn, have been incorporated into the program. In terms of legislation and management, our program has been providing technical advice both for national and international (UNESCO) legal instruments which protect underwater cultural heritage and we are also developing a national register of shipwreck sites. Finally, as for education, many conferences, lectures, and short courses take place every year in different spheres including schools, scuba diving clubs, and the Argentinean Coast Guard. |