Francisco Rivera

Francisco Rivera is a historical archaeologist and Researcher at the Institute of Archaeological Research and Museum, Catholic University of the North. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Montreal (Canada) and directs the Alto Cielo Archaeological Project, which explores the cultural history of Ollagüe, an indigenous community in northern Chile.

Dr. Rivera's research focuses on the anthropology of mining, industrial heritage, the archaeology of the contemporary past, and the historical archaeology of capitalism. His work primarily examines extractive capitalist activities in peripheral areas to the world's major industrial centers, with fieldwork conducted in both the Atacama Desert (Chile) and Quebec's Lower North Shore (Canada). He employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining archaeological, ethnographic, and historical methods in his research.

His recent scholarly contributions include co-editing the book 'El perfume del diablo: azufre, memoria y materialidades en el Alto Cielo (Ollagüe, s. XX)' (2020), which explores sulfur mining, memory, and materialities in the Alto Cielo region of Ollagüe. His research demonstrates a strong commitment to understanding how indigenous communities interact with industrial heritage and how historical processes shape contemporary cultural landscapes.

Dr. Rivera is actively engaged in academic discourse, as evidenced by his presentation on post-preservation approaches to industrial heritage in a Quechua indigenous community in northern Chile, highlighting his ongoing contribution to critical heritage studies and community-based archaeological practice.