Teotihuacán Archaeological Collections Research

Aerial photo of Teotihuacán.

This project focuses on the use of non-destructive analytical techniques to generate new data on archaeological artifacts. 

Project description

The University at Buffalo Department of Anthropology is the steward for a collection of archaeological materials made during the 1959 excavation season at the site of Teotihuacán. These collections include artifacts, notes, maps, and photographs from the 1959 field seasons. As part of this project, students will work directly with this collection to gain experience with archaeological research methods and collections management. The project will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will include the digitization and data management of documentation related to the excavations. Review of all field notes and photographs is the first step in responsible collections research. This will build on work that began in 2019 to fully digitize all documentation related to the collections. Phase two of the project will focus on using non-destructive techniques, specifically portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF) to analyze the chemical composition of all obsidian artifacts in the Teotihuacán collection. 

Project outcome

Through this project, students will create a digital database of archival materials, generate chemical sourcing data, and present a poster at a national archaeology conference. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About a semester; 3-5 months
Start time Fall (August/September) 
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-Person Project (can only function with in-person engagement) 
Level of collaboration Individual student project 
Benefits Stipend 
Who is eligible Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors who have completed are are enrolled in APY 108, at least 1 400-level anthropology course 

Project mentor

Lacey Carpenter

Assistant Professor

Anthropology

Phone: (716) 645-3080

Email: laceycar@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

1. Create an annotated bibliography with at least 10 sources on the archaeology of Teotihuacán
2. Watch these videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_eSyhjQVno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b10R43ACeoc

Keywords

anthropology, archaeology, museums