Martín Justiniano (1948-2010) and the archaeology of Ancash

Abstract

Archaeological research is an eminently collective work. Formed in universities and provided with methodological and theoretical tools, archaeologists could not carry out their activities without the participation of numerous social agents, among them those who assume the role of ‘local assistants’ in the field and cabinet studies. In Ancash, in the northern mountain range of Peru, several individuals from that group have played important roles in the execution of excavations and in the conservation and defense of heritage sites. Martín Justiniano was recognized since the 1970s as a skilled and responsible excavator. Beyond this, Martín Justiniano was a collaborator of numerous archaeologists, who found in him a loyal friend. Born near Chavín de Huántar and a speaker of Quechua and Spanish, Martín also assumed on several occasions the role of guide in the introduction of Peruvian and foreign archaeologists to local communities. The analysis of the life and experience of Martín Justiniano leads us to reflect on the position of the ‘assistants’ in the investigation of the past, an activity in which the local workers play a crucial yet often unrecognized role.