Harvard Summer Program in San José de Moro, Peru (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru)
This page contains content from the Summer School 2009. For current information, visit the Harvard Summer School website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
Information on the programs being offered summer 2010 will be available online in early September.
Archaeological methods and techniques, and the exploration of Andean prehistory
Faculty: Luis Jaime Castillo Butters and Jeffrey Quilter
(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 23–July 30, 2009
Application deadline: February 27
Cost: $4,896
San José de Moro is a small village on the banks of the Chaman River in La Libertad, a department on the northern coast of Peru. It lies on the nucleus of one of the most important cemeteries and ceremonial centers of the Mochica culture and subsequent cultures. In 1991, a group of archaeologists began to excavate at San José de Moro. The excavations and related studies at this site have helped scholars understand traditions, beliefs, artwork, and organizational and governmental forms of ancient societies of the area. Tombs, objects, and architectural evidence of these cultures are still buried at the site. An outstanding discovery of the San José de Moro Archaeological Project (SJMAP) was the burial site of the most important women in the Andean region, the tombs of Mochica priestesses.
The SJMAP distinguishes itself as one of the most important international archaeological projects of the northern Peruvian coast. Sponsored by the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (La Católica), the program has been directed since 1991 by Luis Jaime Castillo Butters. A primary objective of the project is to understand the development and collapse of the complex coastal societies through the study of funerary and ceremonial practices developed in the regional cemetery. This information complements a broader perspective of coastal cultures, based on systematic explorations at different archaeological sites in the valley.
To date, the SJMAP boasts more than 400 excavated funerary sites. Around this type of tomb, Mochica pottery, adorned with a technique known as fineline painting, has been discovered—remnants of some of the most spectacular artistic works produced by the Mochica society. The large quantity of domestic areas associated with funerary practices (which display complex stratification) make San José de Moro an excellent location to learn and develop basic skills in the practice of archaeology.
Course of study
The program begins with a week-long tour of local archaeological sites, as well as lectures and discussions by Professor Quilter, before transferring to the dig site.
ANTH S-1178 The Archaeological Field School at San José de Moro, Peru: Methods, Techniques, and Andean Prehistory
Students have the opportunity to spend more than 180 hours of archaeological work at the site. The supervisors of each excavation area are prepared to teach students basic concepts of archaeological excavation, registry of materials, and technical drawing of excavation areas. Additionally, the program provides resources for developing skills in digital photography documentation of archaeological artifacts in the field laboratory. Another important component of the project is the ethnographic record. This focuses mainly on the study of potters producing practical ceramics and on artisans who crafted fineline ceramics. The programmed activities also include archaeological explorations at other sites in the valley as well as visits to nearby foreign and national archaeological digs. Students also visit the Royal Tombs of Sipán, the Site Museum of Túcume, and the National Museum at Sicán. Evenings generally consist of free time. Periodically, however, the program offers academic lectures. The speakers include Christopher Donnan of the University of California at Los Angeles; Terence D’Altroy of Columbia University; Santiago Uceda, director of the National University of Trujillo’s Huaca de la Luna Archaeological Project; and Régulo Franco, director of the El Brujo Archaeological Project. In addition, the investigation team’s European and American doctoral students present theses of particular interest. SJMAP supports sustainable community development, thus students in the program perform social work related to children. Prerequisites: no previous fieldwork experience required. An advanced level of Spanish is not required, as many members of the SJMAP staff speak both English and Spanish. However, it is advisable for students to have basic knowledge of Spanish to facilitate interaction with the local population.
Course credit
For Harvard College students, this program counts as one full-year course (8 credits) of degree credit.
Transfer credit. Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary among schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
Luis Jaime Castillo Butters, Principal Professor, Archaeology Program, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru
Jeffrey Quilter, Senior Lecturer on Anthropology; Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and Curator of Intermediate Area Archaeology at the Peabody Museum, Harvard University
Application
Students must be at least 18 years old to apply. The application materials, outlined below, are due February 27:
- An application form (the application period for this program has ended)
- Official transcripts (sent directly from schools to the address below; unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for Harvard College students only)
- A $50 nonrefundable application fee
- A supplementary statement describing interest in the program, relevant coursework, and travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite)
Applications should be addressed as follows:
Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Students will be notified of admission decisions by mid-March.
Cost
The cost of the program is $4,896, plus a nonrefundable $50 application fee. In addition, students are responsible for a health insurance fee ($165; waived if students have US insurance that provides coverage outside the United States). The cost of the program covers the following:
- Tuition
- Room and some meals
- Course materials
- Excursions (including meals where appropriate)
Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses.
Payment deadlines
Harvard Summer School online services allows accepted students to make payments or deposits with a valid credit card.
Students can also mail their payment, along with a completed Study Abroad Payment Form (available in Forms), to:
Student Financial Services
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
For those admitted to the program, a nonrefundable deposit of $490 must be received by April 15 to secure a place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Funding
Harvard College students are eligible for funding through the Harvard College Office of International Programs (OIP), as well as a variety of centers around campus. All Harvard Summer School study abroad programs qualify for summer funding. Programs of eight weeks or longer in duration (including extensions of Harvard Summer School Programs approved by faculty members) qualify for Rockefeller International Experience Grants; programs of shorter duration qualify for other summer grants.
Students may consult the Funding Sources Database for more information on all sources of funding. Please note that the funding application deadline for summer grants and Rockefeller International Experience Grants is February 27.
To apply for any study abroad funding, students need to provide information about the program’s budget, submit an application through the Common Application for Research and Travel (CARAT), as well as supplementary documents to the relevant center, if necessary. Additional information on the funding application process is available through CARAT.
Also see the Harvard College Financial Aid Office summer school page for information about assistance.
Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
For most of the program, students live in the project’s house located in Chepén. The provincial capital of Chepén has 40,000 inhabitants and many services, including banks with auto tellers, Internet cafes, restaurants, two hospitals, pharmacies, money exchange offices, a gym, and churches of several denominations. Every Sunday, Chepén hosts the regional market, where merchants from around the north coast set up shop in the streets and sell everything imaginable.
Physical activity
Archaeological fieldwork is physically intense and often rigorous. Students work in the field, excavating under the sun, climbing among excavation units from Monday to Saturday. Since some of the most interesting, little explored, and pristine sites are remote, traveling there requires hiking and even climbing steep coastal mountains. No special training is required, but a reasonable level of fitness is advisable. However, a lighter schedule can be arranged for those with physical challenges.
Additional information
Contact Jeffrey Quilter, Harvard Summer Program in San José de Moro, Peru, Peabody Museum, 11 Divinity Avenue, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; quilter@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 496-9655; fax (617) 495-7535. Please send faxes to the attention of Jeffrey Quilter.
Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible: (617) 495-0977, (617) 495-9419 (TTY), or disabilities@dcemail.harvard.edu. Request-for-accommodation forms and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 15. See the Disability Services page for more information about disability services, including request forms and guidelines for documentation.
Students applying for admission to Harvard’s study abroad programs should understand that although the University provides reasonable assistance and support to facilitate the participation of qualified students in its programs (including students with disabilities and health impairments), some of our programs are located in parts of the world where accommodations may not be readily available. Students are encouraged to be forthcoming with the disability services coordinator about any specific needs and functional limitations so that the Summer School can collaborate with those students in a way that fosters their safe participation and allows them to fully appreciate any barriers that they may face, depending on the location and rigors of the particular program.
Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be canceled.