Pozo de Arana, Memory site and former detention center in La Plata, Argentina.
Pozo de Arana is a former detention facility at the corner of streets 137 and 630 in La Plata that remains as a memorial to those harmed during Argentina's military period. The building preserves physical traces and documents the systematic violations of human rights that occurred within its walls.
The site functioned as a clandestine detention center during the military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. Authorized excavations beginning in 2007 uncovered human remains, confirming its role as a burial ground for victims of state terror.
The name references a nearby spring, though the site itself became known for documenting crimes against humanity during military rule. Today it serves as a space where visitors confront the realities of state violence and its lasting impact on society.
Plan to spend adequate time here as the content is emotionally heavy and requires thoughtful engagement with the material presented. Speaking with staff members on site can provide additional context and personal perspectives that deepen understanding of what occurred.
This was the first police-run detention facility in Argentina where investigators definitively confirmed the presence of clandestine burial grounds. This discovery proved groundbreaking for forensic science and helped identify similar sites across the country.
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