Program Overview

The Paracas culture of southern Peru is famous for its spectacular art and depictions of human trophy heads. In this project we will explore the nature of violence in Paracas culture to determine if it is a type of ritually confined elite competition or if it was war for political and economic ends. We also explore interregional exchange and mobility between the coast, mid-valley and highland ecological zones to illuminate the rich exchanges of goods, peoples, and ideas over long distances. Working with a number of experts from the Universidad Mayor San Marcos from Lima (Peru), students will gain a rich experience in excavations, mapping, laboratory work and analytical techniques.

Instructor Bio

Dr. Charles Stanish (stanish@ucla.edu) is the Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and holds the Lloyd Cotsen Chair in Anthropology at UCLA. Dr. Stanish is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington DC.

Dr. Henry Tantaleán is a lecturer at the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos in Lima and a leading expert in the archaeology of early state societies.

Mr. Benjamin Nigra (bnigra@ucla.edu) is a doctoral student at UCLA in the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. His research interests include the evolution of cooperation and the development of social complexity in the Peruvian Andes.

Student Fees

Program Costs

All fees are payable to the Institute for Field Research. Eight semester credit units are provided through Connecticut College. Program fee includes registration, accommodations, program activities, meals on workdays, and health insurance.

Airfare, weekend meals, and optional excursions are additional.

Financial Aid

Please inquire about Financial Aid at your home institution. For details about the financial aid application process, please visit the Financial Aid section of this web site.

Budgeting

How much to budget depends on your travel, entertainment and souvenir choices. It is always best to overestimate your spending. We recommend that you budget accordingly to cover optional sightseeing, laundry, internet cafes, emergencies, etc.

Expenses NOT Covered:

-Airfare to/from the pre-designated meeting place for the field school.
-Food on weekends when away from the site.
-Miscellaneous expenses.
-Sightseeing outside formal field school excursions as outlined on the syllabus.

Accommodations

Students will live in comfortable, but modest housing in the village of El Carmen. Conditions at the field house are basic and students should expect shared accommodations.

MEALS:

All meals will be communal events and will provide plenty of nutritious but basic food in the tradition of local cuisine. The daily diet in Peru is heavily based on rice, corn, potatoes and meat. Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, etc.) are difficult to maintain in this location. Vegetarians may attend but will find options limited.      

Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have special dietary needs, as well as any medical or physical conditions. We will advise you accordingly. The project is used to catering for vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance etc.

Travel Information

You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. Many airlines fly between North America and Peru. All international flights land in Lima in a very modern airport. We strongly recommend either American Airlines or LAN as these have the best schedules and most flights. Avoid the airlines with multiple stops from the US.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:

A passport with at least six months of validity remaining is required. US citizens are permitted stays up to 90 days without a visa. For further information, please consult the U.S. State Department website by clicking here.

HEALTH ISSUES:

For specific information regarding travel health issues pertinent to Peru, please read the Centers for Disease Control Website. Click here to be directed to the CDC website.

Student Testimonials

“This field school offered a well-rounded student experience that involved us in many different steps of the archaeological research process from mapping and survey to excavation and analyzing material in the lab. Because this was a new project, the element of uncertainty and potential for discovery made the research exciting and very real. The Chincha field school was very much a "live," dynamic research project, and since we were a small group, we benefited from being able to do work closely with fellow undergraduates and with graduate students and professors. Living off the beaten track of Peru's tourist cities and working with Peruvian students also provided a refreshingly unique and enjoyable cultural perspective that left most of us hoping to see more of the country. Overall, the project was fun, academically motivating, and made me want to pursue archaeology."

-Camillle Weinberg, UCLA (2012)

"Chincha was an amazing experience that removed any doubts I had about pursuing archaeology. I learned basic skills required for the field while immersing myself within the Peruvian culture. I always found myself having fun, whether I was interacting with the people, learning their history or digging on the site. This is something I would definitely do again."

-Michael Rosales, UC Santa Barbara (2012)