Earth: The long-term effects of extractive industries

Kennedy S.A.; Cáceres K.D.; Kelloway S.J.; Baggett S. · The Routledge Handbook of Health and Environmental Humanities (2026) · DOI: 10.4324/9781003404866-36

Resumen

This chapter focuses on how archaeologists study and interact with the remains of heavy metals in archaeological soils, and how these toxic remnants continue to affect modern communities and human health. Specifically, it focuses on the archaeological study of human/environmental relationships in the past, with a focus on extractive economies like mining. Our case study examines a set of colonial silver refineries located in the Puno Bay of southern Peru. Research there has combined archival, archaeological, and soil chemical analysis to detail the lives of Indigenous labourers over four hundred years ago. Current collaborative research initiatives aim to evaluate the ongoing environmental impact of these now-abandoned sites on modern descendant communities and landscapes. ©(Publisher name) (publishing year) all right reserved.