This 3-credit course is an archaeological field school where students have the opportunity to engage in original research at the archaeological site of Cerro Blanco, a Chancay Administrative Center located in central Peru. The course is split into two parts. The first is an 8-week on-campus introduction to Andean archaeology, meeting twice a week in the second half of the spring semester; the second is a 4-week off-camps field school in Peru, where students will take part in the Huanangue Valley Archaeological Project. Students interested in anthropology, economy, political science, social impacts of climate change, environmental sustainability, indigenous ecologies, resource management, or Latin American studies are encouraged to consider this course. 

In the field, students will work together with experienced archaeology students from Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal. They will receive training in excavation, drone mapping, spatial analysis in GIS, and artifact analysis under the mentorship of Dr. Szremski. In the evenings, students meet for a series of lectures/discussions centered on a weekly theme. The project's long-term goal is to uncover what role Cerro Blanco played in managing interregional trade and how that trade impacted the region.

Special field trips to cultural events important to the region are included in the program, such as visiting Caral, and Las Lomas de Lachay. The field house is based in Sayan, so students will be embedded within the local community and have ample opportunity to practice their Spanish and to engage with local community members.