Abstract In the nineteenth century, sealing vessels visited the South Shetlands Islands, Antarctica, to take skins and oil. The remains of several camps set up to hunt and process fur and elephant seals still survive in the region. The work of archaeologists has made it possible to learn about various aspects of the sealers’ lives. However, compared to other areas of research, little attention has been paid to the study of production activities. This paper deepens the discussion of the potential of archaeofaunal assemblages to shed light on the forms that production may have taken in sealers’ camps. To this end, the current study uses a zooarchaeological methodology that focuses on the identification of exploited species and the traces that commercial slaughter and processing of different resources may have left. The assemblages recovered from Sealer 3 and Punta Elefante 2, Livingston Island, serve as case studies. The results invite reflection on the possibilities, limitations, and challenges of research in the region.

Resumen Durante el siglo XIX, naves loberas visitaron las islas Shetland del Sur (Antártida) para obtener pieles y aceite de pinnípedos. Actualmente se conservan los restos de numerosos campamentos donde se explotaron lobos y/o elefantes marinos. El trabajo de los arqueólogos ha permitido conocer diversos aspectos de la vida de los cazadores. Sin embargo, el estudio de las actividades productivas ha recibido escasa atención frente a otras líneas de investigación. Este trabajo profundiza la discusión sobre el potencial de los conjuntos arqueofaunísticos para abordar las formas que cobró la producción en los campamentos. Para ello se plantea una metodología zooarqueológica que involucra la identificación de las especies explotadas y las huellas que pudieron dejar la matanza y el procesamiento comercial de distintos recursos. Los conjuntos recuperados en Sealer 3 y Punta Elefante 2 (isla Livingston) aportan material de estudio. Los resultados invitan a la reflexión sobre las posibilidades, límites y desafíos de las investigaciones propuestas en el marco de la región.

Resumo A tecnologia tem impactado o mundo de formas diversas. Assim, não é de surpreender que a Arqueologia e a Conservação-Restauração, nas últimas décadas, tenham experimentado mudanças no que diz respeito às teorias, metodologias e técnicas. Essas mudanças permitiram ‘novas’ possibilidades para, em certa medida, facilitar e aperfeiçoar as pesquisas e a preservação dos materiais recuperados; porém, ao mesmo tempo, é preciso lidar com os ‘novos’ problemas e desafios que as mudanças trazem. Na nossa perspectiva, como será evidenciado neste artigo, buscamos um equilíbrio entre esses extremos (os benefícios e os problemas das novas tecnologias), refletindo sobre os usos dessas tecnologias. Nós as entendemos como ferramentas que podem ser utilizadas no trabalho cotidiano, mas que, ao mesmo tempo, afetam diretamente a investigação; assim, em uma relação de natureza dialética, as novas tecnologias impactam as pesquisas e os pesquisadores. Para exemplificar essa discussão, serão apresentadas algumas reflexões teórico-metodológicas relativas à aplicação de tecnologia 3D em pesquisas, extensão, conservação-restauração no âmbito do projeto “Paisagens em branco: Arqueologia Antártica”, coordenado pelo Laboratório de Estudos Antárticos em Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (LEACH-UFMG).

Abstract Technology has impacted the world in different ways. In this context, it should not surprise us that archeology and conservation-restoration in recent decades have undergone theoretical, methodological, and technical changes. All these transformations bring “new” possibilities to—with some exceptions—facilitate and improve research and preservation of recovered materials. However, at the same time, we have to learn to deal with “new” problems and challenges. The authors’ proposal presented in this article seeks to find a balance between these extremes (solutions-problems), reflecting on what aspects of new technologies can be taken advantage of, understanding them to be tools that can be used in our daily work, but at the same time, affect our investigation from a dialectical relationship. To exemplify the discussion, we will present some theoretical-methodological reflections on the application of 3D technology in contexts such as research, extension, and conservation-restoration within the Landscape in White Antarctic Archeology Project coordinated by LEACH-UFMG.

Abstract We identified cultivable fungi present on the surface of five archaeological sealers’ artifacts from the beginning of the 19th century collected on Livingston Island, Antarctica. Twenty fungal isolates were recovered and identified using biology molecular methods as taxa of Antarctomyces, Linnemannia, Penicillium, Mortierella, Talaromyces, and Trichoderma. Penicillium was dominant on artifacts stored at 10 and 25 °C. In contrast, Antarctomyces, Linnemania, Mortierella, and Trichoderma occurred only on artifacts stored between 8 °C and 10 °C. Our results showed that the Antarctic artifacts harboured cosmopolitan mesophilic, cold-tolerant, and endemic psychrophilic fungal taxa. The mesophilic fungi might have contaminated the artifacts in situ, during sampling, transport, and/or storage in the laboratory collection or represent dormant but viable form capable to grow on the objects. However, the detection of cold-tolerant and endemic fungi shows that these fungi, when stored between 8 ° and 10 °C, continue growing on the objects, which may supply them with organic nutrients; this may accelerate degradation of artifacts in the collection. Preventive steps should be adopted to avoid further microbial contamination. Sterilised microbiological conditions can be followed during fieldwork and transportation to Brazil. The preventive protocol may represent a better alternative to avoid artifact microbial proliferation to preserve rare Antarctic archaeological heritage.