Buenos Aires Launches Two Archaeological Excavations

Why this is here: The Barraca Peña excavation uncovered a complex water cistern, suggesting that even residents of lower socioeconomic classes may have had access to modern water systems—a detail that challenges previous understandings of urban life in the area.

The City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is simultaneously conducting archaeological excavations at Barraca Peña in La Boca and Casa Blaquier/Lucía Herrera in Montserrat. These sites reveal remnants of port activity, early railway connections, and domestic life from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Work at Barraca Peña began in mid-August 2025 and quickly uncovered a previously unknown cistern with a complex water pumping system, as well as parts of a pier dating potentially to the 18th century.

The two excavations are notable because they allow researchers to study Buenos Aires from its foundational layers—its materials, objects, and productive traces. The Barraca Peña site, one of the largest urban archaeological digs in the city in the last twenty years, includes a former railway station, a warehouse, and structures related to the country’s first rail-port connection.

Archaeologists also discovered a residential floor near the warehouse, along with personal items like bottles, perfume containers, and footwear. While the sites offer insight into daily life and commerce, questions remain about the extent of access to modern amenities like piped water for lower classes. Both Barraca Peña and Casa Blaquier are now open to the public, offering cultural experiences and bolstering tourism.