Location: Locumba Valley, Peru

Season Dates: July 14, 2013 - August 17, 2013
Session Dates: Single session
Application Deadline: July 1, 2013

Website: http://www.ifrglobal.org/programs/current/peru-moqi

Program Type
Field school

Affiliation: Institute for Field Research, UCLA, Connecticut College

Project Director: Dr. Colleen Zori, UCLA

Project Description

The Inka empire was one of the largest of the ancient world, supported by a network of outposts. This project explores one of the best preserved of such outposts – the site of Moqi. Moqi comprises a commoner domestic area, an Inka-style civic-ceremonial sector, and several cemeteries. Our primary research interests lie in determining what brought the Inka to this valley, and how local and imperial populations interacted. Mortuary analyses are critical for learning about the identities of the site’s inhabitants and excavations in both the domestic and Inka parts of the site will shed light on how these groups articulated on a daily basis. This is a multidisciplinary project that explores the function of the site and its political, economic and ideological significance.

Period(s) of Occupation: Inca, Inka

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Entire duration of field school

Minimum Age: 18 years old

Experience Required: No prior experience required

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will live in comfortable, but modest, field housing in the Locumba Valley, and will be provided with hotel lodging while in Tacna and Moquegua. The site of Moqi is located at 2,800 meters above sea level (ca. 9,000 feet) so a period of adjustment to the altitude will be necessary and mandatory. While daytime temperatures are quite comfortable and perfect for conducting excavations and survey, it can get down to freezing during the nights, and so warm clothing is a must. Conditions at the field house are basic and hot water is not always guaranteed. Students will sleep on bunk beds or on mattresses on the floor, and will share large communal rooms divided by gender.
All meals will be communal events and will provide plenty of nutritious but basic food in the tradition of local cusine. The daily diet in Peru is heavily based on rice, corn, potatoes and meat.  Specialized diets (vegan, kosher, etc.) are difficult to maintain in this remote location. Vegetarians may attend but will find options fairly limited.         
Please let us know when you apply for this program if you have special dietary needs, as well as any medical or physical conditions. We will advise you accordingly. The project is used to catering for vegetarians, those with gluten intolerance etc.

Academic Credit
Name of institution offering credit: Connecticut College
Number of credits offered: 8 semester credit units
Tuition: $4,800

Contact Information
Ran Boytner
1855 Industrial Street Unit 106
Los Angeles, CA 90021
United States
info@IFRglobal.org