El Campanario Archaeological Project. Huarmey – Peru (Bioarchaeology and Archaeology Fieldwork)

Location: Huarmey, PE

Season: July 10, 2023 to August 11, 2023

Session Dates: July 10th to August 11th, 2023 (two available spots for summer 2023)

Application Deadline: June 16, 2023

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: http://ecaphuarmey.webs.com/

Program Type:
Volunteer

RPA Certified:
No

Project Director:
Dr. Jose L. Peña

Project Description:

El Campanario Archaeological Project started in 2015 to understand the socio-political organization of the site during the Late Intermediate Period A.D. 1000 and 1400.  The initial excavations conducted at the El Campanario site focused on domestic structures to understand the social organization of households and the production activities conducted in these residential areas. The archaeological research at the household level revealed that the inhabitants conducted various production activities that included the manufacture of pottery, textile production, maize beer production, as well as the extraction of marine resources. In 2018, the project started the excavation of adobe (mud-brick) platforms and the cemetery which provided information about public architecture and mortuary practices. Various construction events were recorded during the excavation of the platform which indicated a period of remodeling and extension of public architecture by the local elite. In addition, excavations at the cemetery provided information about ancient people, such as mortuary practices, access to resources, and health conditions.

The objectives of the El Campanario Archaeological Project in 2023 will consist of the analysis of human remains and artifacts from the cemetery, the excavation of the adobe platform, and the excavation of the site of CuzCuz which was surveyed in 2022. Participants will learn excavation methods, mapping, profile drawing, recognizing cultural layers of occupation, identifying human remains, and recovering and identifying various archaeological materials such as pottery, stone tools, textiles, animal bones, seeds, and sea shells. During the laboratory work portion, participants will learn artifact classification, botanical analysis, pottery analysis, textile analysis, and lithic analysis.

El Campanario Archaeological Project will offer two separate fieldwork sections:

Bioarchaeology Section (5 Weeks): This section will consist of the excavation of the cemetery and laboratory work. This section will focus on osteology analysis, population demography, funerary rituals, and paleopathology.

Archaeology Section (5 Weeks): This section will consist of fieldwork and material analysis. In this section, participants will spend half of the fieldwork in the excavation of the adobe platform and the other half on the cemetery. This section will also include the analysis of human remains during the laboratory portion.

Period(s) of Occupation: Late Intermediate Period (1000 - 1400 A.D.)

Notes:
The El Campanario Archeological Project started in June of 2015 in order to obtain information about household activities and social interaction among the El Campanario inhabitants. The excavation conducted at El Campanario provided significant information about the Casma polity, which occupied the northern coast of Peru. The excavation work at the site will continue in the summer of 2023 with a focus on excavating a cemetery and the adobe platform.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 5 weeks

Minimum Age: 19

Experience Required: None

Room and Board Arrangements:
What the cost include: pickup at Lima airport, accommodation in Lima and Huarmey, transportation from Lima to Huarmey and from Huarmey to the site, 3 meals a day for 6 days a week (5 weeks) in Huarmey, field trip to Caral (Supe Valley), Las Aldas and Sechin.  What the cost does not include: Airfare, meals while in Lima, weekend meals in Huarmey, academic credits and travel insurance, and other personal expenses. Living accommodations will be in the city of Huarmey, which is about a 15 minute drive to the El Campanario archaeological site.  Be advised that living accommodations will be basic in that the locale will have running water and electricity; internet connectivity may not be guaranteed but there are ample internet cafes located throughout the city of Huarmey. Program Cost: 2.700 US dollars

Academic Credit:
El Campanario Archaeological Project (ECAP) does not offer academic credits to participants. However, the project team leader is willing to work with students to aid them in obtaining credits through their own academic institutions.