Florida Atlantic University Archaeological and Ethnographic Field Programs in Ecuador

June 21, 2025-August 3, 2025

 

Archaeology:  https://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/anthro/archfield/
Ethnography:  https://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/anthro/ethnfield/

The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Department of Anthropology’s Ecuador Field Program has provided anthropological and archaeological field training for all levels of students:  undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral.  Since its inception in 1997, the Ecuador Field Program has trained over 600 students in anthropological and archaeological field methods.

From FAU, the US, Europe and South America, students have learned archaeological and ethnographic field techniques and many have completed their theses and doctoral dissertations based on research they conducted at the Ecuador Field Program.  FAU faculty, professional anthropologists and archaeologists provide students with methodological training within the context of ongoing research projects.

The ethnographic and archaeological research programs center on understanding local subsistence practices in variegated micro-ecosystems with the goal of building a record of how people in coastal Ecuador have made use of multiple ecosystems in a relatively small area from approximately 5000 years ago to the present.

 

The field program has also initiated an archaeological survey of an interior river valley populated with a number of distinct monkey species.  This survey has the potential to expand the programs for the Ecuador Field School’s programs to include primatology, tropical forest ecology, zoology, geography, art and history.

 

Participation in the Ecuador Field Program can satisfy different course requirements in FAU’s Department of Anthropology BA curriculum.  FAU students must register for either Ethnographic Fieldwork Study Abroad (ANT 4802) or Fieldwork in Archaeology (ANT 4824) . Students from other colleges and universities are welcome to participate in the program as a non-degree student and may have the option to register for 1 audit credit if they do not need the full course credit transferred back to their home institution. FAU tuition rates apply. 

Application Deadlines

Applications must be submitted by May 13, 2025.  Early applications are encouraged to guarantee a spot in the program. Space is limited to 20 students per term.  Students will be informed of their acceptance by phone or email.

Please Contact: 

Valentina Martinez, Field School Director
Email:  vmartine@fau.edu,  Phone: 561-297-0991 

Dr. Michael Harris, Anthropology Department Chairperson 
Email:  mharris@fau.edu, Phone 561-297-3230