Privado: Archaeology in San Jose de Moro – Excavating a 1,500 Years-Old Moche Temple and Cemetery

Schedule

Field School is scheduled to take place in July. Archaeological excavations are carried out intensively for a period of 4 weeks, adding up to a total of 180hours of practical work, 32 hours of lectures and site visits. The first week serves as an introductory period during which students will learn the basis of the field work procedure and the proper use of tools necessary for the work. In the following weeks, different activities have been planned for the students. These activities do not take place in any specific order, as the nature of fieldwork is highly flexible depending on what contexts are excavated. At the same time, students will rotate among the different sites and the lab. This is in order to get the full experience of the field work.

Field Objectives

• Identify and recognize the diverse types of archaeological contexts.
• Digging strategies and use of different tools in the field.
• Learn the basics of archaeological survey.
• Learn and apply archaeological recording techniques in the field and in the laboratory.
  – First stage: Field drawing, written records.
  – Second Stage: Recording methods for special contexts. Photo recording.
• Learn and apply field and laboratory recording techniques. Application of the excavation and recording techniques previously learned in the field and the laboratory during the season. Field photography.

Lab Activities

• Introduction to the laboratory work.
• First approach to the artifacts. Sorting of objects, classification, recording, labeling and photography.
• Photogrammetry. Learn how to take pictures and process them in different software in order to acquire a 3D model.
  Depending on the interest of each student. Learn the use and benefits of a handheld X-Ray Fluorescene for diffraction and elemental analysis of artifacts.

Complementary Activities

In addition to doing field archaeology, students will have the opportunity to visit some of the most remarkable archaeological sites of the region (Sipán, Túcume, Huaca de la Luna, Huaca el Brujo, Pacatnamú, Chan Chan).

Students will also be part of an “Experimental Archaeology Exhibition”, where they will participate in the manufacture and firing of ceramic vessels, textile production using a traditional loom and the preparation of maize beer (chicha).

These activities will be complemented by the participation of the most recognized local and foreign archaeologists, who will show their most outstanding research in Andean archaeology as well as specialized artisans from the region.

Additionally, students will have the opportunity to interact with the community through artistic workshops that will bring together Field School students with local school kids.