Archeological Digs in Latin America

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1. How will studying the ancient inhabitants of these areas help understand current populations, cultures, and events?

Studying the ancient inhabitants of these areas helps understand current populations, cultures and events. The idea here is that cultures are passed down through generations, so to understand present cultures we need to look to the past. Likewise events shape populations and cultures, which are transmitted from generation to generation, to the current times.

2. The physical locations of the archeological digs

The term Latin American culture includes all of Spanish speaking and Portuguese speaking countries in the American continents. The northern part of this cultural area includes the ancient Aztec, Maya (http://stonecenter.tulane.edu/html/MayaSymp/Andrews.htm AND http://mesoweb.com/maler/bio.html), Toltec, and Olmec civilizations of the Central American continent. These advanced civilizations make Latin American culture a rich and fascinating study, including the countries of Mexico (see http://studentweb.tulane.edu/~dhixson/ and www.mesoamerican-archives.com and http://www.humanities-interactive.org/splendors/timeline.htm- click on the names on the website for pictures), Belize, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Caribbean Islands (http://www.responsibletravel.com/Trip/Trip900184.htm).

The southern part of Latin American culture includes most of South America, including the ancient civilizations of Inca, Moche, Nasca, and Tiwanaku. These are listed separately from the northern Central American cultures. See http://archaeology.about.com/od/latinamerica/

Archaeology digs are held in Central American each year, including university field schools both from colleges in Central America and in other countries. Universities, museums, cultural resource firms, and historical societies year-round all over the planet conduct archaeology digs. Some digs take volunteers, some are limited to professionals or student archaeologists, and some are combinations. Some archaeology digs are long term, lasting for months, some are as short as a few days or weeks. This page lists archaeology digs by location in the world, and describes the type of site being excavated, the dates of the dig, and the kind of research being completed. Whether you want to join an archaeology dig, take a class, or just find out what's being dug this year, this is the page for you. http://archaeology.about.com/od/currentdigs/

1. Caracol: the Supremacy of Lord water in Belize (see complete write-up of archeological work including dates, location, etc., about a quarter way down the website at http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/mayasites.html).

2. Mayo Sites: El Pilar Archeological Reserve in Belize (see complete write-up on location, dates etc. at http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/mayasites.html, about half way down the website)

3. Pahal Pech: The Temples above the Valley (see http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/mayasites.html, just over half way down the website, which describes the location, date, etc.)

4. Pacbitun: the entrance to Pine Ridge see http://www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/mayan/mayasites.html, located about half way down the website for dates, location, description, etc.)

5. Mexico: The cerros de trincheras sites- Casas Grandes (Paquime) (1995)
5. Aerial Archaeology in Mexico

Prehistoric Aztec painting
The 1995 Casas Grandes/Cerros de Trincheras Aerial Photo Expedition: Prehistoric Mexican archaeological sites in the Casas Grandes area, September 1995
In September of 1995 ...