Ross W. Jamieson - Böcker

This volume is a study of the power relationships inherent in domestic architecture and household material culture that were essential to the maintenance of the Spanish colonial empire. Using the household spatial patterning, furnishings, and personal belongings of residents of the highland city of Cuenca, Ecuador, during the 17th and 18th-centuries, the book examines gender, ethnic, and status relations in the colonial Andean world.

The Galápagos Islands are one of the world's premiere nature attractions, home to unique ecosystems widely thought to be untouched and pristine. Historical Ecology and Archaeology in the Galápagos Islands reveals that the archipelago is not as isolated as many imagine, examining how centuries of human occupation have transformed its landscape. This book shows that the island chain has been a part of global networks since its discovery in 1535 and traces the changes caused by human colonization. Central to this history is the sugar plantation Hacienda El Progreso on San Cristóbal Island. Here, zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical evidence documents the introduction of exotic species and landscape transformations, and material evidence attests that inhabitants maintained connections to the outside world for consumer goods. Beyond illuminating the human history of the islands, the authors also look at the impact of visitors to Galápagos National Park today, raising questions about tourism's role in biological conservation, preservation, and restoration.