The Spanish occupation of the central lowlands of South America: Santa Cruz de la Sierra la Vieja

Abstract

In the center of South America was a major urban project from its source to its abandonment. It is documented that the reasons of the settlement were the benefits of the environment. Forty years later, this idea was completely changing and based the abandonment. Wrapped in the vagaries of colonial policy implemented by Europe in the American territory, in 1561 men and women, mostly from Asuncion, founded the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. In 1604, they were forced by the monarchy to leave the city. With the archaeological excavations in the nuclear sector of the city and the exploration of the territory, is relieved evidence indicating an urban process that grew under a strategic position in the colonial dispute between Portuguese and Spanish, in a border area in several ways. Methodologically, excavations have yielded archaeological evidence that is not common in cities work: (1) Experienced a short occupation (40 years), but widespread enough to involve almost a generation of occupants. (2) Founded in empty lands, so the beginning of the occupation was given the same urban plan. (3) Was abandoned and burned in a precise moment and was not inhabited again, not as a city or as a village. The results of the work can postulate models. These give greater accuracy when working with records of towns with continuous development, where it is difficult to identify the sixteenth century contexts. In this case, the particulars of a city without being fortified, is strategically designed to be strong.