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Andahuaylas Bioarchaeology Project

Enmanuel Gomez Choque (UNSCH), Danielle Kurin (Vanderbilt U), Co-Directors

2011 Field Season (July 1 – July 30)

About the Project

Our excavations and analyses are administered as the Proyecto Bioarqueológico Andahuaylas (PBA). This
is how the project is known vis-a-vis the Peruvian National Institute of Culture (INC), the Ministry of
Culture, and the Provincial Government of Andahuaylas, which issues site excavation permits, oversees
analytic procedures, and is the ultimate repository of all recovered materials. The project as
administered through these governing bodies is directed by Danielle Kurin (Vanderbilt University). The
Peruvian Co-Director is Enmanuel Gomez (Universidad Nacional San Cristóbal de Huamanga, Ayacucho).
The Project manager is Aubree Gabbard (Bryn Mawr College).

When/Where
Lab analysis and Ethnographic fieldwork will run concurrently during the month of July.
Our lab and housing is located in Andahuyalas, a provincial capital in the department (state) of
Apurimac.

Andahuaylas Province is a high altitude (9,500 feet), semi-arid setting at a subtropical latitude, so it is
extremely bright and sunny during the day with temperatures in the 60s and 70s, but then the
temperature plummets to the 30s or even 20s at night (due to the altitude). It's like going from summer
to winter every day. There is no central heat. Indoors, it might be 5-10 degrees warmer than outside,
but basically it is chilly at night even inside, so you must bring warm clothes. The project will provide you
with a bed and some warm alpaca/llama wool blankets.

Work week: We will work 6 day weeks (Monday through Saturdays).

Daily work schedule:
8:00 am Breakfast- Make your own: bread, jam, oatmeal, cereal, coffee and tea
8:30 am Lab Work
12:30 pm Lunch- Make your own: sandwich (Tuna, Veggie, Lunchmeat) and fruit
1:30 pm Lab Work
4:30 pm Free Time
6:30 pm Dinner- Provided for you
Free Time after dinner

Sundays are for everyone's personal time. The same breakfast and lunch fixing will be available Monday
through Sunday, but you are responsible for your own dinner on Sunday night.

ESSENTIALS
Medical/Health
If you have any special health needs or concerns, talk with your doctor. You are ultimately responsible
for your health and taking care of your health needs. While in Peru, you must monitor your health and
make decisions about whether to see a doctor if you come down with something or get injured. You will
be responsible for any related medical costs.
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Doctors in Andahuyalas expect to be paid by you, in cash, so check your insurance requirements. Bring
documentation such as an insurance card. Make sure you know your provider’s procedures for dealing
with emergencies while in foreign countries. For life-threatening medical emergencies, we will have to
send you to either Cuzco or Lima.

You may choose to bring all basic toiletries and supplies with you (i.e. prescription drugs, over-the
counter medications, contact lens solutions, tampons, sunscreen, etc.) as brands sold in Peru are often
different, and you can't always get what you want.

The water in Andahuaylas should be consumed only after boiling and/or purification. You can boil water,
use bleach, iodine, or other purifier, or you can buy bottled water. We will always have boiled hot and
cooled water available in the project houses. If you travel, you should expect mild bouts of stomach
upset and possibly diarrhea. Over the counter remedies are adequate for most. For more serious GI
infections including giardia or e. coli your medical provider may prescribe Metronidazole or Flagil. It may
be wise to take an antibiotic (i.e. Amoxilcilin, Erythromyacen) with you, although Ciproflaxin is widely
available in Peru.

Check the CDC website or consult with your local health provider for vaccinations required for Peru.
Minimally, you should be vaccinated against tetanus and various strains of hepatitis. Andahuaylas is a
highland provincial city located at 2,900 m (9,600 ft.) where Malaria is not a risk.

What to Bring
DO NOT BRING ANYTHING THAT WOULD DESTROY YOU IF IT WERE LOST/ BROKEN/ STOLEN. If you
bring a laptop, back-up all your files. If you bring a digital camera, download your photos before you
come to Peru. Don’t bring expensive jewelry. Check if your insurance company covers loss or theft of
property.
MAKE COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT AND LEAVE THEM WITH A TRUSTED RELATIVE.

Clothing and Sleeping

Think layers. You must be prepared for the cold. Temperatures in Andahuaylas are in the high 60s during
the day and extremely sunny (major sunburn potential), but drop to around freezing every night.

Bring enough clothes so that you can go one week without laundry

Work clothes: Long sleeve, loose-fitting T shirts and blue jeans that can get completely dirty.
City clothes: whatever you normally would wear for every day.

Consider packing the following:

Long underwear or leggings
Warm socks, underwear and bras
A brimmed hat or baseball cap
A warm winter hat and pair of gloves for nighttime
A warm fleece or down sweater, jacket etc.
A waterproof breathable wind repellent shell, if you have one (it gets windy)
A 20 degree rated sleeping bag. Synthetic or down.
Hiking shoes
House shoes (flip-flops/crocs/uggs etc.)
A towel (or buy it in Peru
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Other things you may want to bring (optional):

Backpack (carrying money in your backpack or pockets is an invitation to theft)
Money belt (safest way to carry your money and documents)
Baby wipes
A bathing suit
Water bottle
Flashlight or headlamp
Sunglasses
The usual toiletries (all available in Andahuyalas)
Tampons (maxi-pads are available)
A Peru Travel book if you plan to do some extensive travelling.
Travel alarm clock.
Books/magazines for free time.
Mp3 player
Digital Camera
Extra batteries (no name brands available in Peru)
Transformer for gadgets (look on the plug, if it says 110/220 or 110-240 v, you can plug
it in without a converter, if it just says 110-120, you must use a converter).
Extra eyeglasses and contact lenses
Eye-mask and earplugs (if you are a light sleeper)
Duct tape (good for anything MacGuver-esque)
Pocketknife (Gerber, Swiss Army, Leatherman, etc.)

Remember: never put toilet paper/tampons/etc. into flushable toilet basins in Peru—paper must go in
the trash. Also, If you don’t like lukewarm showers, plan on warming up a basin of water and sponge-
bathing.

Optional Archaeological/Ethnographic Equipment

The project will provide you with the basic equipment necessary to conduct
archaeological/osteometric/ethnographic fieldwork. However, you may want to start investing in a basic
“kit” that you can use in Peru—or anywhere else in the world—now and in the future. Everything can be
conveniently stored in one of those plastic art supply storage boxes (or tackleboxes).

For the Bioarchaeologist:

Paints brushes of various widths Bamboo tools/skewers
Notebook Small flashlight
Sharpie markers – fine and extra fine tip Magnifying glass
Small ruler/straight edge Human Osteology (T White)
Pencils and erasers Hand sanitizing gel
Plastic bags of various sizes
Clipboard
Spreading and sliding calipers For the Ethnographer:
Clear nail polish Tape recorder with good microphone
Sample bags Handheld digital video camera
Latex Gloves Extra batteries
Disposable masks Field notebook
Eye protection Pens/ writing utensils
Toothbrushes USB/ memory stick
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About Money
The current exchange rate is around 2.8 Peruvian Nuevo Soles to 1 US dollar.
Your ATM card is your lifeline, so take care of it. If possible, bring a backup ATM card, or one from
another account, and keep it separately, in case you lose your primary one. Check with your bank to see
that their network includes Peru. ATM fees can cost between $3-5.

Always have some cash on hand. Bring enough money to cover dinner on Sundays, your personal
expenses, and airport departure taxes.

Departure taxes cost ~$5 at the Andahuaylas airport and $30 at the Lima airport.

You can change money at banks or “casda de cambio.” If you bring US dollars down with you to
exchange, bring only nice new bills with no tears or errant markings (like pen marks or stamps).
Moneychangers will refuse old and ripped bills. You should take enough money in cash for the first few
days in Peru.

Andahuaylas has a lot of counterfeit money floating around. Always check your bills to make anytime
you get change back. For bills, check the watermark, the security tape (inside the bill-hold it to the light),
and the tiny print near the portraits on the bills (make sure it's legible). Pair up with someone who has
changed money to learn how to do this the first couple of times.

Traveler's checks are not recommended; you get a poor exchange rate it is difficult to change. If you
decide to bring travelers checks, leave a copy of the receipt and the check numbers at home with
someone whom you can contact.

Credit cards are accepted at many hotels, restaurants, and gifts shops in Lima and Cuzco, but are non-
existent in Andahuaylas. Overall, Visa is much more widely accepted than MasterCard. You also can use
a credit card to get a cash advance at banks. They pay the cash advance in Soles (the Peruvian currency),
not in dollars. Take a credit card for emergencies. Make sure you leave a copy of all essential
information with someone back in the United States.

Notes on Lima
Arriving in Lima, you will first pass through immigration (“Migración”), where your passport and
immigration card (you’ll get it on the plane) will be stamped. Your stated reason for visiting Peru is
“Turismo.” I you are staying for more than 30 days, just ask the immigration officer for a 90-day
immigration stamp (“Un sello de noventa días, porfavor”).

After immigration, you will claim your baggage. Once you claim your bags, you must pass through
customs. Give the official your customs form (you’ll get it on the plane, too). You will be asked to press a
button and pass through a fake magnetometer. Once pressed, if the light turns green, you may pass on
through. If the light turns red, customs officials will examine your bags. Checking bags is a pain, but only
takes a minute or so.

Once you pass through Customs (“Aduana”) you will be greeted by a huge throng of people waiting for
family members, as well as taxi drivers looking for a fare.
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If you have a domestic flight, wade through the people, continue walking and enter the “Domestic
Terminal” area. There you will see counters for companies like LC Busre, LAN, etc. Counters open 2-3
hours before domestic flights and 4 hours for international ones.

When leaving the airport in Lima (for your hotel, the bus station, etc.), use only official taxis that provide
receipts for travel. Ask for "Taxis oficiales." Trips are around 40 soles.
**Agree on a price BEFORE you ride**

There are many good hotels in the Miraflores area. Try to get a place near the Parque Kennedy/Larco
Mar area. Larco Mar is a big mall on the coast at the end of Avenida Larco, which has a movie theater,
bowling alley, stores, restaurants, and a great view of the Pacific.
A night at a cheap hostal in a good part of Lima (or Cuzco) will cost around $25-$40 for a Single with
private bath. Contact project staff for hotel/hostel recommendations.

If you have time in Lima, don't miss the catacombs of the Iglesia de San Fransisco, downtown (15 soles
taxi ride, 5 soles entrance fee), and Museo Larco (15 soles by taxi, 30 soles entrance fee). Remember,
Lima is a big city (over 10 million people, 30% of the total pop. Of Peru), with big city crime, like pick
pocketing, robbery, and scam artists, so if you spend time there so always be alert.

Getting to Andahuaylas:
Send us your itinerary as soon as it is confirmed and we will pick you up upon arrival in Andahuaylas.

Air: Two airlines serve Andahuaylas: LC Busre Airlines and StarPeru. Tickets are around $75-120 each
way, from Lima. Contact staff members if you need help buying your ticket. Another option is to fly to
Cuzco, and take a bus to Andahuaylas.

Ground: From Lima, take Cruz del Sur “Cruzero Suite” bus service to the city of Abancay
(http://www.cruzdelsur.com.pe/inicio_2.php). The bus leaves everyday at 2 pm from the Cruz del Sur
Terminal on Avenida Javier Prado (all the taxis know where it is). The ride is 182 soles, and takes about
20 hours. In Abancay, take Sr. de Huanca Van service to Andahuyalas. The ride is 15 soles and takes 3.5
hours.

If you fly into Cuzco, you can take Expreso Chankas or Celtur bus companies to Andahuaylas (~10 hours,
30 soles). Buses leave everyday at around 7 am and 7pm from the main bus terminal (“terminal
terrestre”). The ride is on paved road half the time.

Life in Andahuaylas.
Andahuaylas combined with its two sister cities (Talavera and San Jeronimo), are home to about 25,000
people. Our project house is located in downtown Andahuaylas. It will have modern conveniences
including indoor plumbing, TV, bedrooms, kitchen, electric shower, etc.

The easiest way to get around the valley is by mototaxi. Mototaxis are good for intra-city travel and cost
around 70 centimos. Otherwise you can walk, take a “combi” (mini bus) or taxi.

Communication in Andahuaylas:
Unless you are with AT&T, your U.S. based cell phone probably will not work in Peru. Contact your
provider if you think it might. Roaming charges are likely to be high (over $3/min) on both incoming and
outgoing calls.
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There are internet cafes all over Andahuaylas City. This costs about 30 cents per 1/2 hour. Most
computers have viruses, so never download anything. CD-R’s are cheap and a safe alternative to
up/downloading anything.

There are also call centers in the city called "locutorios" where you can make cheap calls to the States.
Alternatively, a cell phone can be purchased around 70 soles (and up). Call time credit is through cards
of varying amounts you can purchase on the street. Incoming calls are free of charge. Calls can also be
made on public phones using coins, or from women wearing bright neon vests waving cell phones,
shouting “llamadas!” (“phone calls!”).

Personal Expenses
Dining options on Sunday Night (or make your own):
Peruvian Chicken $$ El Pico Rico Pizza and Pasta $$ Venecia
$$ La Casona $$ Il Gato
$$ Pepe Pollo $$ Brad Pitza
Chifa (Chinese) $$ Chun Yon Sang Hamburgers $ Bugie Burger
$$ Chifa Lin
Off the Grill $$$ El Anticucho
(entrée + drinks: $ = 5-10 soles, $$ = 10-15 soles, $$$ = over 15 soles)

Snacks, soft drinks, beer, etc: Coca-cola costs 1.50 soles, a 20-oz beer is 4 soles. Snacks are also cheap.
We supply all your drinking water. Pirated movies cost 2 soles. Souvenirs such as sweaters, jewelry, and
pottery are cheap. The best souvenirs are found in Cuzco, and Lima. Andahuaylas has less variety.

Other costs: $30 for airport tax when you leave Lima for the US, cab and hostel in Lima, internet and
phone calls.

Important Notes:
Project plans are subject to change without prior notice. Peru has been known to witness strikes,
blockades, and unannounced holidays which may alter planned schedules. The general information and
listed prices within this guide are also subject to change.

Finally, your university’s Honor Codes apply on this project. Any criminal activity by participants will be
grounds for immediate expulsion from the project, and may be subject to prosecution by Peruvian
and/or American authorities.

Acknowledgements
The project is funded by Vanderbilt University and Fulbright-Hays. Additional support provided by the Provincial government of
Andahuaylas, AMTUR, and San Cristobal of Huamanga Univeristy, Ayacucho. This guide is follows templates established by Dr.
SA Wernke and Dr. TA Tung (Vanderbilt).