The Contisuyo Archaeological Lab School in Peru will provide students valuable experience studying abroad and conducting bioarchaeological and archaeological research. This program provides anthropology and archaeology majors an opportunity to earn 6 credits toward their major in a foreign country. The program gives students laboratory experience in artifact handling, conservation, cataloging, and basic analysis of ceramic, lithic, fauna, and textiles, as well as Human Osteology.

Students will receive 7 credits for two courses: ATY 479: Analysis of Archaeological Data (3 credits) and ATY 453: Human Osteology (4 credits). These classes are significant for graduates with an anthropology or archaeology degree that wish to work in Cultural Resource Management or attend graduate school to study archaeology or forensics. Students who do not take such courses will not be competitive in the workplace or in the application process to graduate school. Since such experiences are vital to an archaeological career, ATY 479 may be repeated for credit.

Students will participate in laboratory analyses targeted to answer significant anthropological questions. We will be examining materials recovered during a rescue project by professional Peruvian archaeologists. Sadly, they were not allotted the resources to study this large, amazing collection. This research will answer a number of important questions regarding the transitions that took place when Wari and Tiwanaku withdrew from the valley (ca. AD 1000) and later when the Inka conquered the region (ca. AD 1450).

Program Dates: June 25 – August 5, 2023
Location: Moquegua, Peru
Cost: $4,200
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022

Program cost includes: cost of instruction by UNCG faculty, room, board, local transportation, and excursions.
Program cost does NOT include: airfare (approx. $1,200) and spending money (approx. $400). The amounts provided for these categories are estimates.

Prospective program applicants must have an overall GPA of 2.8 with at least one previous course in anthropology or archaeology. Students should be in good health and sufficient physical condition to hike daily for 30 minutes with a day pack. Students will be walking in Moquegua to various laboratories and have weekly field trips that including hiking. Spanish skills are preferred, but not required. A limited number of scholarships are available for this program.