PROJECT ROATÁN

Mesoamerican Archaeology Field School

USF Summer Education Abroad Program in Honduras

June 6-July 17, 2010

Read about the 2009 program here

The USF Mesoamerican Archaeology Field School is a six-week summer research program that allows participants to explore the fascinating world of ancient Mesoamerica through scientific excavation of a late prehispanic village, El Antigual, located against a backdrop of beautiful tropical forests and pristine beaches on Roatán Island, Honduras. As one of the educational components of Project Roatán, an international collaborative between the University of South Florida and the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, the program introduces participants to the ways in which archaeology can answer questions about past lifeways and simultaneously contribute to understanding the current intersection of cultural heritage and global tourism.

Through assisting archaeologists in the field and laboratory, field school participants are trained in the methods, theories, and ethics of contemporary archaeology. Participants also learn about the cultures and history of Mesoamerica through seminars and field trips led by USF faculty, and gain a broader perspective on the world by living and working in a modern Central American community. Both undergraduate and graduate students are invited to participate. The program is designed to allow participants to learn and practice methods of archaeological survey, excavation, data collection and materials recovery, recording, and processing, as well as laboratory analysis and artifact cleaning and conservation.

The curriculum surveys modern field and laboratory analytical techniques appropriate to anthropological archaeology, stressing their relation to basic theoretical questions and assumptions. It also provides practical knowledge of, and experience in using, the methods of public and applied archaeology. Through readings, lectures, and discussions, the historical development of archaeology and cultural resource management are considered, and then the key concepts that define the discipline are analyzed. These techniques and strategies are simultaneously applied to investigate the archaeological site of El Antigual, a hilltop settlement with residential and ceremonial components that was occupied at the time of Christopher Columbus’ famous encounter with a local trading canoe in 1502 as he passed by the island on his final voyage to the Americas.

The curriculum also explores the evolving cultural traditions of southeastern Mesoamerica. Participants begin by examining the ideas that influenced prehispanic religion, economy, and politics. The continuities and changes in these traditions brought about by the Spanish Encounter are then pursued. More recent historical patterns and processes on Roatán and its neighboring islands are finally considered. This rich and complex history brought together a blend of indigenous Pech islanders, Spanish colonialists, African peoples, British and Dutch settlers, and Caribbean pirates and buccaneers, which gives Roatán its distinctive cultural character today.

The program is led by Christian Wells, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology at USF who has worked in Honduras and neighboring countries for over 15 years. The first few days of the program are devoted to orientation to the community where we live and to the field site of El Antigual and its environs. The remainder of the program focuses on field and lab research, with participants divided into teams of three or four students each. Each team rotates among projects centered on survey, mapping, excavation, laboratory analysis, and public outreach.

The estimated total program cost is $3,900 for undergraduates or $4,200 for graduates. This estimate includes the program fee ($2,790), the Education Abroad Administrative Fee ($300), and the instructional fee ($810 for 9 undergraduate credit hours or $1,110 for 6 graduate credit hours). The final cost, which will be established by February 2010, will be based on enrollment and the currency exchange rate. The program provides all transportation while in Honduras, as well as all lodging, meals, and field trips. Participants are responsible for their own airfare (ca. $450 from Houston or ca. $650 from Miami), a Marshalltown trowel and other personal gear, any recommended books, and personal spending money.

For more information, visit the USF Education Abroad Website or email Christian Wells. To apply, fill out an application and mail it, along with a copy of your curriculum vitae or resume and at least one letter of recommendation, to: Christian Wells, Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., SOC 107, Tampa, FL 33620 USA. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2010 or until the program is filled.

Assistance with funding for this program can be sought by applying for a USF Compass Scholarship ($500-$1000), an AIA Waldbaum Field School Scholarship ($1,000), a Boren Scholarship (up to $20,000), or a low-interest (5.75 % APR) student loan from the USF Federal Credit Union (up to $2,500). USF Honors College students are encouraged to contact the Honors College for additional funding opportunities.