Contribution of archaeological studies to local development (University, municipal governments, community leaders and key stakeholders)

Abstract

The articulation of cooperation strategies between the University, public institutions, municipal governments and local stakeholders (community leaders, farm owners, teachers, pastors, among others) represents an important effort that contributes to the enhancement of the archaeological heritage of the communities that own these resources. Efforts that, in economic, social and cultural terms, represent great benefi ts for the families and their inhabitants, creating synergies between knowledge-science-society. The extensionist experiences, from social archeology, in the municipalities of Santa María, City of Nueva Segovia, Diriá and Granada, show the impact of such articulation, from the recognition and re-reading among the inhabitants, of their environment and how this new way of understanding it, contributes to the strengthening of their local identities. The scientific contribution provided by UNAN-Managua, together with the knowledge shared by the inhabitants of these municipalities during the interaction period (the time the research lasted) represents a source that contributes to the feedback process between the researchers and the community. In this sense, the main purpose of this work is to share successful experiences of articulation between the University and local governments in archaeological research, to get to know their historical and cultural environment, so that it can be used to the benefi t of the families, communities and the support of the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) can give.