Peru: Exploring Peru’s Prehispanic Past/Mathematics and Architecture of Ancient Peru
(ANT 456 or 200-level MAT) This course will take students to Peru to study either archaeology or math, based on an itinerary of visits to important archaeological sites and museums on the north coast and the central highlands of Peru, including Machu Picchu. ANT 456 will compare Moche, Chimu, and Inka political, economic, and religious systems in order to understand how ancient Andean states developed in harsh environments and in the absence of writing and money. The math course will address the ways that Andean cultures devised their own mathematical tools and used math, such as symmetry and fractals, in their design. Contact Prof. Robyn Cutright or Lesley Wiglesworth.