The Purísima Concepción Archaeological Project (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina) - An Interdisciplinary Approach

ABSTRACT In January 1765, the Spanish merchant frigate Purísima Concepción went aground on the Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego while sailing along the Cape Horn route from Cádiz to Lima. The shipwreck survivors remained in the island for nearly three months, time devoted to the construction of another vessel while interacting peacefully with the native population. In view of the historical significance of this event, an archaeological project was conducted to locate the shipwreck and survivor’s camp. The searches were conducted both on land and underwater in the areas that were considered to have the highest potential based on previous archaeological surveys and thorough documentary research. Positive results were reinforced by an interdisciplinary approach and specialized archaeometric studies, allowing us to meet the project’s goals.