Mentiras verdaderas o la topología de la guerra. Aproximación arqueológica a la cartografía colonial de Bocachica, Cartagena de Indias

Colonial maps and plans of Cartagena de Indias from the 17th and 18th centuries reveal that representations of the port were shaped by the 'topology of war,' blending factual descriptions with strategic exaggerations. This study demonstrates how these cartographies, despite their inaccuracies, provided a framework to dissolve dichotomies between nature and culture, as well as land and sea, by depicting a heterogeneous landscape populated by human and non-human actors. By analyzing overlapping and polysemic elements in the maps, researchers have developed a methodology to reconstruct maritime battles, such as those of 1697 and 1741, and track the evolution of warfare landscapes in Bocachica's canal. The approach highlights how colonial cartography served both descriptive and strategic purposes, offering new insights into historical conflicts and spatial narratives.

Del Cairo Hurtado, C. (2014). Mentiras verdaderas o la topología de la guerra. Aproximación arqueológica a la cartografía colonial de Bocachica, Cartagena de Indias. Apuntes. Revista de Estudios Sobre Patrimonio Cultural, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.11144/javeriana.apc26-1.mvtg