The local management of archaeological heritage: Jesús de Machaca and Ispaya Grande (La Paz, Bolivia)

Abstract

Heritage construction has become, in many cases, a means of obtaining future economic resources, especially from tourism. It is usually accompanied by a technical analysis carried out by experts knowledgeable in the field. Although national policies appeal to the decision-making of local populations in relation to heritage issues, organization often becomes vertical, where the professionals have the final word on what heritage is. In this way, the local population is only seen as the group who grants the research permits and gives their endorsement. However, in recent years, this has been slowly changing, and local populations have begun to realize the archaeological value within their communities. In this paper I intend to provide two examples of how archaeological and conservation work was managed through initiatives of the local populations, specifically the Municipality of Jesús de Machaca and the community of Ispaya Grande. From personal experiences, interviews, and informal talks, I try to get closer to the perceptions that local people have about their past. In both Jesús de Machaca and in Ispaya Grande, there are various concerns, ways of carrying out projects and, above all, the value that local people give to archaeological sites, which go beyond the material.