Past Events

Patricia Ayala, PhD, University of Chile

La Dra. Ayala es profesora del Departamento de Antropología de la Universidad de Chile (Santiago, Chile). Se especializa en arqueologías colaborativa, indígena y decolonial, así como en el estudio crítico de la patrimonialización.  En la actualidad sus investigaciones se centran en procesos de repatriación y reentierro en el norte de Chile y en el desarrollo de metodologías colaborativas en la Amazonia boliviana. La Dra. Ayala también está interesada en las biografías antropológicas y las historias de vida.

Dr. Ayala is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chile (Santiago, Chile). She specializes in collaborative, indigenous and decolonial archaeology, as well as in the critical study of patrimonialization. Currently, her research focuses on repatriation and reburial processes in northern Chile and on the development of collaborative methodologies in the Bolivian Amazon. Dr. Ayala is also interested in anthropological biographies and life histories.

En este seminario se presentarán los principales debates generados en Latinoamérica sobre los orígenes coloniales de la arqueología y propuestas para su descolonización. Para ello, se abordarán tres ejes de discusión: el desarrollo de las arqueologías colaborativa e indígena, el de los procesos de repatriación, restitución y reentierro y el de la patrimonialización. Este curso estará dirigido a arqueólogos/as y estudiantes de arqueología, así como a profesionales de museos e instituciones patrimoniales.

Este seminario online se imparte solo en español.

In this seminar, the instructor will present the main discussion points generated in Latin America on the colonial origins of archeology and proposals for its decolonization. For this, three lines of discussion will be addressed: the development of collaborative and indigenous archaeologies; the processes of repatriation, restitution and reburial; and patrimonialization. This course is aimed at archaeologists and archeology students, as well as professionals from museums and heritage institutions.

This online seminar is taught only in Spanish.

Familiarizar a los participantes con los debates más relevantes sobre la descolonización de la arqueología en Latinoamérica.

Familiarize participants with the most relevant discussion points on the decolonization of archeology in Latin America.

Alexander Rogers, MS, MA, RPA, Maturango Museum Curator Emeritus

Alexander (Sandy) is Archaeology Curator Emeritus of the Maturango Museum of Ridgecrest, California. He holds advanced degrees in both physics and archaeological anthropology. Over the past 15 years he has published over twenty papers and two book chapters developing and applying the science and mathematics of obsidian hydration dating (OHD). He regularly conducts such analyses in support of CRM firms and academic projects, and is currently working with colleagues on further understanding of OHD at the molecular level. He has led OHD workshops at annual meetings of the Society for California Archaeology, the Association of Oregon Archaeologists, and the Northwest Anthropological Conference.

The goal of this seminar is to provide insight into the theory and methods of obsidian hydration dating (OHD), a useful addition to the archaeologists’ toolbox for chronometric analysis. It should help enable attendees to ask the right questions, principal investigators to select appropriate methods, and analysts in performing chronometric analyses. The workshop will cover the basic principles of obsidian hydration and the models employed in dating; how to control for temperature and obsidian water content; methods for computing a hydration rate; guidelines for data analysis; and numerous cautions. An link to download a summary document on OHD will be provided, and an Excel spreadsheet with numerical models for conducting an OHD analysis. Mathematics will be kept to a minimum, but cannot be avoided entirely.

1. Describe the science behind obsidian hydration dating (OHD), especially recent advances
2. Outline the key methods of determining ages with OHD, and the steps involved
3. Highlight the limitations of the method, in terms of both accuracy and the consumptive nature of the lab work