archaeology and autonomies the legal framework of heritage.pdfVIP

International Journal of Cultural Property (2011) 18:291–307. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2011 International Cultural Property Society doi:10.1017/S0940739111000257 Archaeology and Autonomies: The Legal Framework of Heritage Management in a New Bolivia Donna Yates* Abstract: The 2009 Bolivian Constitution significantly changed the structure of the state and paved the way for the creation of regional, local, and even indigenous autonomies. These autonomies are charged with the management of archaeological sites and museums within their territory. This article answers the question of who currently owns the Bolivian past, it stems from concerns raised at the 2011 renewal hearing of the Memorandum of Understanding preventing the import of illicit Bolivian antiquities into the United States. By combining an analysis of recent legal changes related to the creation of the autonomies and a short discussion of a notable case study of local management of a Bolivian archaeological site, this article offers a basic summary of the legal framework in which Bolivian archaeology and heritage management functions and some preliminary recommendations for governments and professionals wishing to work with Bolivian authorities at the state and local level. BACKGROUND On 27 June 2011, the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Property Advisory Com- mittee 1 met to discuss a five-year extension of the bilateral agreement between the United States and Bolivia, which bars the import of illicit Bolivian archaeological, ecclesiastical, and ethnographic material into the United States.2 The agreement, referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), has been in place since *Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge. Email: dey21@cam.ac.uk ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to thank Professor Clark Erickson, Professor Sonia Alco- nini, and the members of the United States State Department Cultural Propert