Copan 2012
Maya Field Workshops
Copan Honduras June 3 – 9 2012
The Art and History of Copan
Maya Field Workshops are intensive, on-site seminars devoted to introducing you to the world of Maya archaeology and epigraphy, led by renowned archaeologist David Stuart of the University of Texas at Austin. They focus not on tours and traveling, but on a concentrated experience of a single place over the course of one week.
Over six days you will become immersed in the history and culture of an ancient Maya city, penetrating the lives of its kings, queens and courtiers over the course of several centuries. A key part of your experience will be the opportunity to learn about an ancient Maya court and its community in its original, genuine setting. We will visit the temples and read and decode their tablets, using the latest advances in interpreting Maya art and hieroglyphic writing. We will combine this on-site experience with daily lectures and workshops, so participants can work directly and actively with the material.
This is not a week-long traveling tour. Rather, it is an intensive intellectual and cultural experience rooted in one place, allowing you a unique and direct hands-on experience with ancient Maya civilization.
The leader of our workshops is David Stuart, who has been a key player in the decipherment of Maya script since a young age. He is the co-author (with his father, George Stuart) of the recently published and critically-acclaimed book Palenque: Eternal City of the Maya.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Saturday, June 2 (Travel date for most)
Arrivals at Guatemala City airport
Transportation to Copan Ruinas
8:00 PM: Welcome dinner (optional)
Sunday, June 3
7:00 AM: Welcome breakfast
8:00 AM: Pick-up study materials
8:30 AM: Unstructured visit to Copan ruins
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Lecture: Introduction to the Ancient Maya and Maya Archaeology
6:00 PM: Drinks and Discussion
7:00 PM: Dinner
Monday, June 4
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Ruins – The Copan Acropolis
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Seminar and Workshop: Introduction to Maya Iconography
7:00 PM: Dinner
Tuesday, June 5
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Ruins – The Great Plaza and Hieroglyphic Stairway
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00: Town Museum and Seminar: Introduction to Maya Hieroglyphs
6:00 PM: Dinner at Hacienda San Lucas
Wednesday, June 6
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Tour of the Copan Sculpture Museum
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Hieroglyph Workshop
6:00 PM: Drinks and Discussion
Thursday, June 7
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Ruins – La Sepulturas and Stela 13
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Seminar: The Hieroglyphic Stairway
7:00 PM: Dinner
Friday, June 8
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Study session at ruins
12:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Seminar: The Quirigua War
6:00 PM: Dinner
Saturday, June 9
7:00 AM: Breakfast
8:00 AM: Final site visit and workshop
7:00 PM (?): Dinner and evening send-off at Hacienda San Lucas
Sunday, June 10
Departures for Guatemala City airport
To ensure a high-quality experience for all, participation in the Maya Field Workshop is limited, so please contact us as soon as you decide to join us, at mayafieldworkshops@gmail.com.
To register:
click here REGISTRATION FORM COPAN 2012 to print and mail form
