Help me fund Harvard Summer School!

"The San José de Moro Archaeological Project (SJMAP) distinguishes itself as one of the most important international archaeological projects currently under way in Peru."

Help me pay my security deposit due March 9th. I've applied to many scholarships and hopefully, will recieve a research stipend but until then I need some help!

I've worked very hard to make this all happen. Please help me make my Indiana Jones fantasty come to life!
Any donation is accepted! Your $5 contribution is a pair of work socks, your $10 donation is a shovel, your $60 is a pair of hiking boots. 

I applied to the Archaeological Field School sponsored by Harvard Summer School to do research that is in conjuction with my USP project at UF. Here is my statement. 

As a 3rd year Art History and Ceramics certificate student, my motive for applying to the University Scholars Program is to unite the worlds Art History and Archaeological scholarship. The dynamics of being both a Ceramics student and an Art History major present a multitude of opportunities for research within the two disciplines. Ceramic objects are archival materials that provide insight to the Moche culture and tradition; it is through their well-preserved pottery that we learn about their civilization, which dates back prior to any existing written records. I propose to research the iconic stirrup-spout vessel from the northern coast of Peru and its emergence from the Moche culture. My mentor, Dr. Maya Stanfield-Mazzi, specializes in Pre-Columbian and colonial art of Peru. She will assist me in improving my researching and writing skills and direct me to useful resources, along with helping me find opportunities for archaeological field schools in Peru.

My research project will be divided into four phases:

Phase 1 – Optimizing the resources at the University of Florida

            My journey will begin at the Harn Museum of Art, where I will have the opportunity to examine several pieces from the Moche culture, particularly the stirrup-spout vessel, which I will be researching. The first-hand experience that comes from observing a precious artifact in person will inform me of curatorial practices in Peruvian/Pre-Columbian art as well as inspire my research. As an Art History student, I spend a lot of time looking at works of art that I will never encounter in real life, or even hope to handle personally, making this a unique experience that I believe will deepen my desire to explore Moche culture. I plan on consulting literature on the Moche at the Latin American and Caribbean Collection at the Smather’s Library on campus and the Fine Arts and Architecture Library. These two resources contain a wide variety of books, journals, and media about Moche culture and their art.

Phase 2 – Archaeological Field School in Peru

            I will use the University Scholars stipend to join an archaeological field school in Peru during the summer of 2017 to further my hands-on experience. The participants have the opportunity to work at an excavation site focused on the Moche Civilization and to analyze the artifacts unearthed there. By becoming immersed in Peruvian culture and being at the heart of the historical site, this aspect of my research project will enrich my learning experience. Throughout the process, I will journal my experience and take notes pertinent to my research. Insight from the field school experience will contribute to both the writing of paper and production of my vessel.

Phase 3 – Research and Writing

            My research paper will examine the meaning and influence of the stirrup-spout vessel in Moche culture. I will examine questions of this nature: What purpose did the stirrup-style vessel serve? Since they have been found primarily in tombs, what was their function? Do they possess spiritual, religious, and afterlife significance? Did every class within the Moche civilization have access to these highly coveted vessels? Since there have been duplicates of the same exact vessels, does the technology of mold making influence consumerism in the Moche culture? I will examine these ideas and create successive drafts of my paper in consultation with my mentor Dr. Stanfield-Mazzi.

Phase 4 – Creating a sample of Moche Pottery

            The last half of my research involves creating a stirrup-spout vessel of my own. I will use the Moche’s pottery techniques of mold making and pit-firing. 

 

It is my goal to earn a PhD in Art History to work towards finding a career in museum curating. As a University Scholar, I will have the opportunity to research Ancient Andean art, which is my genuine field of interest within the realm of Art History. Furthermore, I will strengthen my undergraduate research skills, which will prepare me for the high caliber research required for graduate studies.