Archaeological Field School in Ecuador, South America - Summer 2006

Term B June 29 - August 11, 2006

Purpose of the Program

The Florida Atlantic University archaeological field program is in its ninth year of operation. Unique to our program is its explicit attention to the goal of creating field archaeologists. Further, our program incorporates a multinational and multidisciplinary team of investigators. The program is oriented towards providing intensive and comprehensive training in archaeological field methods and interpretation. Students gain hands-on experience in excavation, survey, data recording, laboratory procedures, and report writing. We have accepted and trained students from accredited colleges and universities in the U.S., South America, and Europe, many of whom go on to graduate work at the masters and doctoral level. The academic purpose of the program is to train graduate and undergraduate students in archaeological field and laboratory methods. Besides excavation and survey training, the program includes weekly lectures that focus on the process and theory of archaeological research and the prehistory of coastal Ecuador. Lectures are given by Field School instructors and guest scientists, both local and foreign. The instructor-student ratio in the field is 1:5. The program may be of special interest not only to Anthropology majors but also to Geology, Geography, or Environmental Studies students, as part of training includes topics related to the dynamics associated with long-term human use of environments and the creation of landscapes.

On the way to the site (l). Stone circle feature, Manteno culture (r)

The program satisfies some course requirements in FAU's Department of Anthropology. The course is entitled ANT 4824, "Field methods in Archaeology," and is offered for 3-6 credit hours. Non-FAU students are encouraged to apply and usually constitute about one-half of field school participants. Early application is

The cost of the program is $2,500.00 (tuition and airfare not included). Airfare group rates will be arranged.

International Cooperation

The program is a joint effort between FAU's Department of Anthropology and the following Ecuadorian institutions: Comuna Salango and the Salango Research Center.

Salango Research Center is the field school base of operations. The center is located in the southern Manabi province of Ecuador, approximately 4 hours from the main city of Guayaquil.

Instructors are from the following institutions/affiliations: FAU, Texas Tech University, University of Neuchatel (Switzerland), the Netherlands, and independent Ecuadorian investigators.

Research Area and Research Design

The field school area of interest is the southern Manabi province, Ecuador. During the late Pleistocene and early to middle Holocene, the Pacific coast of this province was part of a large tropical forest spreading from the eastern flank of the Andes down to the coastal plain. The region is characterized by bays, alluvial valleys and mountains.

The southern Manabi coast, Rio Chico to Salango (l). Opening a prehistoric living floor of compacted lime (r)

The major alluvial valleys of the region have been previously surveyed (Damp 1984; Smith 1985; Stahl 1991). Results show a continuous occupation. At about 5,000 years ago there were permanent settlements based on a mixed economy (horticulture, fishing, and hunting). Over time, agricultural communities with a significant long distance coastal trade network emerged. By the time of the Spanish arrival, ranked societies with very complex socio-political organizations were in existence (Norton 1986).

Manteno ceramic face from Salango Museum collection (l). Students analyzing shell and ceramic artifacts (r)

The goal of FAU's program is to reconstruct the prehistory and paleoecology of the region. Investigations focus on the systematic survey of alluvial valleys and on the excavation of a coastal sites with cultural components from Valdivia (3500 B.C.E.) until the contact period.

The goals for this field season are to continue investigations that include survey and excavations of various sites located in the region. In previous years, excavations concentrated at the Rio Chico coastal site. The site has provided a great deal of information on the Manteno period (A.D. 500-1500). We believe that the site was a specialized "factory" dedicated to the accumulation and processing of Spondylus shells to be later distributed to other centers of manufacture. The site is providing much information not only on economic and social aspects of the shell production, but also on the nature of the trading relationship between coastal Ecuador and the north coast of Peru. Since 2004, the field program has focused on inland site excavations and survey, to unravel the prehistoric interrelationship between coastal and inland groups.

The following general research issues are addressed through fieldwork: chronology, environmental reconstruction, site formation processes, resource exploitation, technological organization, and culture change. Students are trained in the excavation of well-defined cultural contexts, the collection of special samples (i.e., charcoal, pollen, phytoliths, etc.), elementary soil analysis, and identification of depositional and post-depositional formation processes. The survey focuses on the identification of geomorphological features within the alluvial valleys and the identification of other prehistoric sites. Students receive training in survey methods, site documentation, and elementary geomorphology.

References

Allan, P., and R. Allan: Rio Chico (OMJ-PLP-170): The Survey Report. Report in possession of the Salango Research Center, 1988.

Damp, Jonathon: "Environmental variation, agriculture, and settlement processes in coastal Ecuador," Current Anthropology 25 1:106-111, 1984.

Lopez, E.: "La Venus Valdivia Gigante de Río Chico (OMJ-PLP-170A): Costa sur de la Provincia de Manabi, Ecuador," Boletín Arqueológico (Centro de Estudios Arqueológicos y Antropológicos, Guayaquil) 5:157-174, 1996.

Marcos, J., and P. Norton: "Interpretación sobre la Arqueología de la Isla de la Plata," Miscelania Antropologica Ecuatoriana, Boletín de los Museos del Banco Central del Ecuador, 1:136-154, 1981.

Martinez, Valentina, and Tamra Walter: "The Rio Chico Archaeological Site: Report of Investigations." Paper presented at the 1999 SAA Meetings, Chicago, Illinois, 1999.

Smith, K.: Early Formative Occupation in southern Manabi, Ecuador: A reevaluation of Valdivia settlement systems in the Puerto Lopez-Ayampe moisture trap. Manuscript in possession of Museum of Banco Central, Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1985.

Stahl, Paul.: "Arid landscapes and environmental transformation in ancient southwestern Ecuador," World Archaeology 22 3:346-359, 1991.

The Field School Base of Operations

The field school base of operations is the Salango Research Center, adjacent to the beach, 10 minutes from the site to be excavated. The center is a walled, secure compound, with only its museum with access to the public. This center includes a number of different facilities that provide an excellent site for lodging students and for processing and curating archaeological materials. Facilities include: cabañas, a large "hacienda" house, kitchen and dining room, laboratories, offices, storage rooms, the museum, a small library, bathrooms, and showers.

Students doing laboratory work on shell and ceramics (l). Student cabana housing (r).

In order to strengthen the infrastructure of the Center, FAU is committed to delivering a variety of equipment for use in the archaeological project (microscopes, computers, scales, field equipment, etc.) and in other academic projects planned for future years. FAU is further committed to updating the Center's comparative faunal, ceramic and shell collections, and library materials.

View from the Salango Research Center (l). Relaxing at the Center (r).

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted through May 20. However, early applications are encouraged to guarantee a spot in the field school. Students will be informed of their acceptance by phone or letter. A non-refundable check in the amount of $200.00 should be sent before the deadline day for the term to ensure your place on the project. Space is limited to 20 students per term. The $200 deposit will be applied to the basic program cost.

Please contact: Valentina Martinez (mailto:vmartine@fau.edu or Dr. Michael Harris (mharris@fau.edu) ; (561) 297-3230 (Office); (561) 297-0084 (Fax). Our address is: Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431.

Schedule of Activities

Term B: Students arrive at the city of Guayaquil on June 29. June 30 is spent in Guayaquil, purchasing supplies and touring the city. Departure to the Salango Research Center is July 1, during the morning hours. A bus will transport students and staff to and from the Salango Research Center at the beginning and end of the trip.

Several archaeological sites around the area can be visited should students be interested: Valdivia, San Pedro, Real Alto, Agua Blanca, and Vegas. Other weekends, students can tour coastal Ecuador and the highlands. Coastal Ecuador offers different areas and activities of interest, such as the Machalilla Tropical Forest Park, surfing, fishing communities that use ancient technologies, and whale watching by boat.

QUESTIONS?