ANRG 106: Ancient Mesoamerica: Highland Mexico

A Study-Abroad Course Offered in Mexico by the University of California, San Diego
September 6 - 21, 2007

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Description

Study abroad in highland Mexico! This course examines the ancient cities, art, and history of several of the greatest civilizations of the ancient Americas. During the 16 days of the course, we will visit 22 archaeological sites and seven museums that highlight all aspects of Mesoamerican culture.

Highlights include visits to seldom-seen Olmec and Zapotec sites, a day at Teotihuacan (the greatest of all Mesoamerican cities), and tours of precolumbian cities such as Cantona, Xochicalco, Cacaxtla, Monte Alban, El Tajin, Mitla, Tula, and the Aztec Templo Mayor. The course ends with a full day at the National Museum of Anthropology, perhaps the greatest museum of its sort in the world. Along the way, visit beautiful colonial cities (Oaxaca, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Taxco, and Mexico City), see famous murals by Diego Rivera, enjoy fabulous Mexican food, and learn about the rich history of a close neighbor of the U.S.A.

The goal of this course is for students to gain an understanding of Mesoamerican archaeology and art history beginning with the arrival of the first inhabitants of the New World more than 11,000 years ago and until the early 16th century A.D. This is accomplished through direct experience-visiting ancient ruins and studying art with a professor who has worked in Mesoamerica for more than 20 years. Join us!

Basic Information

• Credit: Four unit, upper-division anthropology credit
• Approximate Cost: University tuition (at either UC student, UC graduate student, or non-UC rate) for four units, Summer Session registration fees, and $1990 in course fees. Your course fees will cover all ground transportation in Mexico in a private van, entrance to sites and museums, hotels, breakfasts and lunches, and an introductory and farewell dinner. Course fees do not cover airfare.
• Dates: September 6-21, 2007
• Eligibility: Anyone of legal age, including UC undergraduate and graduate students, students of other colleges and universities, and non-students may apply.
• Contact Information: For more information and an application, contact

  Dr. Geoffrey E. Braswell, UCSD, gbraswel@ucsd.edu,
  (858)-822-0726-office, (858)-822-1540-lab,
  (858)-534-4145-Dept Main Office

Itinerary

• September 6: Arrive at Villahermosa, enjoy an introductory dinner (Night: Villahermosa)
• September 7: La Venta Park Museum, La Venta, San Lorenzo (Night: Acayucan)

• September 8: Cempoala, Quiahuitzlan (Night: Tecolutla on the Emerald Coast)
• September 9: El Tajin (Night: San Juan Teotihuacan)
• September 10: Teotihuacan, Museo Amparo (Night: Puebla)
• September 11: Cantona, Cacaxtla, Puebla Regional Museum (time allowing) (Night: Puebla)
• September 12: Tehuacan Museum, San Jose Mogote, Oaxaca Museum (Night: Oaxaca)*
• September 13: Monte Alban, Zaachila, Rufino Tamayo Museum (Night: Oaxaca)*
• September 14: Mitla, Yagul, Lambityeco, Dainzu (Night: Oaxaca)*
• September 15: Cholula, Chalcatzingo (Night: Cuernavaca)
• September 16: Teopantecuanitlan and Acapulco (Night: Acapulco)
• September 17: Acapulco, city of Taxco, & Cortes' Palace Museum (Noche: Cuernavaca)
• September 18: Xochicalco, Malinalco (Night: Mexico City)
• September 19: Tula, Templo Mayor (Night: Mexico City)
• September 20: National Museum of Anthropology (Night: Mexico City)
• September 21: Leave for U.S.A.

*Note: Recent unrest in Oaxaca should be resolved before our trip. If, however, conditions prohibit a safe journey to this region, we will visit the beautiful land of the Tarascan empire instead. In the state of Michoacan, we will see sites such as Tzintzuntzan and Ihuatzio, three museums, the Monarch Butterfly Reserve, and the spectacular Matlatzinca city of Teotenango. We will also visit beautiful Lake Patzcuaro and stay in the colonial city of Morelia. A decision will be made regarding this leg of the journey about three months before the course.

Maps & Pictures

Please click on the "Zona Arqueologica" arrow at right to see a slide show prepared for the course (PDF format, 2 MB).

Background Design: Coyolxauhqui Stone, Tenochtitlan