Matiguás Project: archaeological heritage and the community

Abstract

The author tries to explain some of the activities that were developed from the Office of the Matiguás Archaeological Project, based in the municipality of the same name in the department of Matagalpa, in the north of Nicaragua, during his functions as representative and executive of said offi ce. Some actions developed during a year (2018 -2019) are presented, highlighting those that have been appropriated by the inhabitants of the towns of Tierra Blanca in the Quirragua region (rural) and the city of Matiguás (urban). The project has been developed since 2012 at the Las Vegas archaeological site, in the town of Tierra Blanca, with systematic actions carried out jointly by the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS), Japan, and the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua ( UNAN Managua), through its Archaeological Documentation and Research Center (CADI). This project also involves residents of that locality. As of 2018, a new phase began with the dissemination and strengthening of relations between the Project and municipal institutions - Mayor’s Offi ce, MINED, National Police - through the creation of a permanent offi ce of the Project in the municipality. The constant work carried out from the office allowed the dissemination and awareness of the population about cultural heritage, mainly in the municipal authorities, in the teaching body of secondary education and in the general population of the town of Tierra Blanca.