THE HERITAGE CONCEPT IN THE ARGENTINEAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD. ANALIZING PAPERS PRESENTED AT NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE ARGENTINEAN ARCHAEOLOGY (1970-2010)

In this paper we present the results of a study about the constitution of the heritage concept as a research and management topic in the Argentinean archaeological field. With this in mind we analyzed those academic publications on the subject in the Congresos Nacionales de Arqueologia Argentina (CNAA) (Argentinean Archaeology National Congresses) proceedings and books of abstracts. These communication spaces present information about the progresses in archaeological research as well as about the difficulties in the archaeological practice. We consider that the analysis of this kind of data then allows defining the research and action fields concerning archaeological heritage. We analyzed the papers of the 17 CNAA that took place since the first meeting in Rosario in 1970. The constant increase of sessions in these events given a thematic expansion in symposiums, round tables and general sessions, shows a strengthening of the research teams, but also the increasing specialization and the theoretical and methodological diversification in Argentinean archaeology. In this context, the concept of heritage also experienced a dynamic process of expansion and redefinition of meaning.