Dominican Republic to host archaeology congress with researchers from 23 countries

The Dominican Republic is set to host the 31st International Congress of Caribbean Archaeology from July 13 to 18. This event, described as the region's "main scientific meeting," will convene 237 researchers from 23 countries across the Americas and Europe to delve into the past of Caribbean peoples.

During the congress, specialists from universities, museums, and research centers will present 97 papers organized into 15 thematic symposia. These presentations will highlight the "most recent advances" in various fields of archaeology, according to a press release from the organizing body, the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic.

Key areas of focus include innovations in bioarchaeology, ancient DNA analysis, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, underwater archaeology, photogrammetry, 3D modeling, ethnoarchaeology, colonial archaeology, rock art, physical anthropology, and community-based cultural heritage. The congress will also explore research on the earliest inhabitants of the Caribbean, ancient population genetics, human migration patterns, archaeology of Afro-descendant communities, underwater cultural heritage, and the application of new technologies in archaeological documentation.

Discussions will also cover agro-pottery societies, European colonization processes, and "new perspectives" for the conservation and dissemination of archaeological heritage. The agenda includes book presentations, audiovisual screenings, specialized museum visits, a scientific session at the Centro León in Santiago de los Caballeros, and an academic ceremony at the Academy of Sciences in Santo Domingo. An excursion to the archaeological sites of Cabo Samaná Natural Monument is planned to showcase Dominican archaeological and cultural heritage. Researchers from prestigious international institutions like Harvard, Copenhagen, Yale, Cambridge, and the Max Planck Institute will participate, alongside academics from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, and other regional countries.