Unveiling the footprints of Riobamba Antigua: georadar and preventive archaeology in colonial contexts of Villa la Unión, Colta, Chimborazo.

Abstract

The proposed research aims to employ a combination of complementary techniques for the archaeological investigation of the city of Riobamba Antigua, currently known as Villa La Unión, located in the Colta canton, Ecuador. The objective is to gather relevant information for the understanding and management of the cultural heritage buried beneath the modern city, both prior to and during the execution of infrastructure works. Previous research has documented the presence of underground remnants, including structural foundations, occupation floors, roads, canals, ditches, and other colonial infrastructure, as well as a significant amount of cultural material, such as ceramics, lithics, metals, bone remains, paleobotanical remains, and other vestiges of Riobamba's occupation between the 16th and 18th centuries. Additionally, reports highlight the extensive destruction of these remnants due to civil infrastructure works carried out since the last century.

To effectively manage the remaining heritage in the area, a georadar survey was conducted, resulting in the mapping of subsurface anomalies. These anomalies were then compared with data obtained from an archaeological-historical bibliographic review and the excavation of test pits. This cross-referencing allowed for the association of the geophysical analysis results with potential archaeological remains.This article presents a synthesis of the results and showcases the findings of the ongoing monitoring work, which demonstrates the successful application of the proposed methodology.