The Specialized Environmental Prosecutor’s Unit (UFEMA), led by prosecutor Blas Matías Michienzi, ordered the initiation of a preparatory criminal investigation after detecting serious irregularities in works carried out in the basement of the San Telmo Market, located at Bolívar 976.
During a comprehensive inspection, the immediate cessation of activities was ordered to determine responsibility for the destruction and disposal of archaeological materials of high historical value.
The origin of the case
The procedure began after a phone call alerted about excavations carried out on December 15 by market personnel, which allegedly exceeded the granted work permits.
The intervention in the basement of the property —declared a National Historic Monument in 2001— was carried out without the heritage preservation protocols required for spaces of such relevance.
Comprehensive inspection and participating agencies
Prosecutor Michienzi coordinated an inspection in which the following participated:
- The General Directorate of Inspection and Control of Works of the AGC.
- The Environmental Crimes Division of the City Police.
- The General Directorate of Heritage, Museums, and Historic Center, under the Ministry of Culture of the GCBA.
During the inspection, officials formally notified those responsible about the validity of the Law 25.743 on the Protection of Archaeological and Paleontological Heritage, which requires the immediate reporting of any findings of sites or historical objects and ensures their conservation.
Concerning findings
During the procedure, it was found that various archaeological elements extracted from the basement during the irregular excavation had been thrown into a garbage container adjacent to the work, treating them as common debris instead of pieces of historical value for the City.
Circumstantial records were drawn up, and photographic records of the excavations and materials recovered inside and outside the work were taken.
Legal framework and possible sanctions
The investigation is preliminarily framed under articles 46 and 47 of Law 25.743, which sanction those who:
- Conduct excavations without permission from the competent body.
- Intentionally or negligently damage or destroy archaeological sites.
The objective is to determine the extent of the damage caused in the basement and whether there was a deliberate omission of the duty to report the findings.
Heritage at risk
Prosecutor Michienzi emphasized the importance of preserving the historical value of the property:
“The San Telmo Market is not just a commercial point; it is a space protected by national law. Any intervention must be supervised to prevent the irreversible loss of our history.”
The case of the San Telmo Market exposes the fragility of urban archaeological heritage in the face of works carried out without adequate protocols. The intervention of UFEMA and control agencies seeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and that protection measures are reinforced in spaces declared National Historic Monuments.
The ongoing investigation will be key to defining responsibilities and setting a precedent in the defense of the cultural heritage of the City of Buenos Aires.
