Waste Journeys

Using Object Itineraries to Investigate Marine Plastic in Galapagos

Authors

  • Estelle Praet Department of Archaeology, University of York
  • Anne Guézou Galapagos Conservation Trust
  • John Schofield Department of Archaeology, University of York
  • Raveena M. Tamoria Department of Archaeology, University of York

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.25844

Keywords:

contemporary archaeology, object itinerary, plastic waste, UNESCO, waste landscape

Abstract

Plastics, as supermodern artefacts of the Anthropocene, form a significant part of waste landscapes. But they also pollute landscapes – cultural and natural, marine and terrestrial – across the globe, including in the most isolated of places. The material’s resilience meansthat plastic pollution is one of the biggest global challenges facing contemporary society.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, this paper demonstrates how archaeological methods can help address the issue of plastic pollution in Galapagos, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “Outstanding Universal Value” to humanity. Studied archaeologically, plastics are artefacts that through careful observation can yield precious information about their journey to this archipelago. As objects of story writing and the focus of object itineraries, they can also be used as a window into perceptions of plastic litter locally, as well as providing an opportunity to engage students in the topic.

Author Biographies

  • Estelle Praet, Department of Archaeology, University of York

    Estelle Praet is an archaeologist who has participated in excavations in Peru, Mexico and Europe. After specialising in Latin American archaeology, Estelle undertook a master’s degree in gender studies and then in archaeological science at the University of Cambridge. It was at Cambridge that she developed an interest in building projects at the crossroads of archaeology and environmental conservation, a topic that she is exploring in her PhD on Galapagos marine plastics at the University of York.

  • Anne Guézou, Galapagos Conservation Trust

    Anne Guézou is an environmental educator and botanist with an MSc in Tropical Plant Biodiversity. Anne has over 20 years of experience in Ecuador and Galapagos. She has worked in various fields related to environmental conservation as a marine biologist in Florida, naturalist guide in Galapagos and botanist at the Charles Darwin Foundation. Now in charge of education and outreach for the Galapagos Conservation Trust, she focuses on sustainability topics and priority issues such as marine plastic pollution.

  • John Schofield, Department of Archaeology, University of York

    John Schofield is Professor in Archaeology at the University of York, where he researches archaeologies of the contemporary world. John has been at York since 2010, running the Archaeology Department’s master’s programme in Cultural Heritage Management. He has visiting adjunct status at Griffith and Flinders universities in Australia and at Turku in Finland. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and a Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

  • Raveena M. Tamoria, Department of Archaeology, University of York

    Raveena M. Tamoria is a lawyer and an interdisciplinary researcher with a focus on understanding the intersections between landscape, culture, conservation and human rights in promoting more inclusive and sustainable communities. Her PhD research examines how archaeology can understand and manage marine debris in the Hawaiian Islands.

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Published

2023-10-25

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2023): Forum: Making Ground: The Archaeology of Waste Landscapes

Section

Forum

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How to Cite

Praet, E., Guézou, A., Schofield, J., & Tamoria, R. M. (2023). Waste Journeys: Using Object Itineraries to Investigate Marine Plastic in Galapagos. Journal of Contemporary Archaeology, 10(1), 81-109. https://doi.org/10.1558/jca.25844