Tomorrow is the opening of the 25th Congress of the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology (IACA), which takes place July 15-21, 2013, at the Alejandro Tapia y Rivera Theater, Fortaleza Street, Viejo San Juan San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Description: The IACA Congress will gather archaeologists, researchers, and people from the general public interested in Caribbean archaeology to discuss related themes, such as: new approaches in Caribbean archaeology; cultural resources management and public archaeology; pre-ceramic age; ceramic age; art and symbolism; historical archaeology; physical anthropology; interaction spheres, migrations and adaptation; Paleo-environmental studies in archaeology; underwater archaeology; and rock art, among others. Besides lectures, panels, and exhibitions there will also be a poster exhibition in the Tapia Theater lobby during sessions, for informal browsing with opportunities for individual discussion with poster author.

History: The first IACA congress was held in Martinique in July 1961. The meeting was organized by Father Robert Pinchon, who for 15 years had carried out excavations on several Amerindian sites in Martinique. He wished to compare his findings with those from other countries of the Caribbean in order to advance the understanding of its history. Originally the association was known as the International Congress for the Study of Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Lesser Antilles, but a change of name was decided at the 10th meeting of the Congress in Martinique in 1983. Reasons for change were the length of the name, which moreover did not include the South American continent or historical archaeology. The association is now known as the International Association for Caribbean Archaeology. It was incorporated as a Caribbean association, headquartered in Guadeloupe.

For full program and more information, see http://www.iacacongress2013pr.com/en/programa.htm and http://www.iacacongress2013pr.com/en/index.htm

Also see recent discussion about “discoveries” of cave art in Puerto Rico at https://repeatingislands.com/2013/07/11/discoveries-of-cave-art-in-the-caribbean-and-ovidio-davila-davilas-arqueologia-de-la-isla-de-la-mona/#comments and http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/research_projects/all_current_projects/el_coraz%C3%B3n_del_caribe.aspx