Copan Archaeological Project

该项目将使韦伯斯特博士和他的同事能够继续在洪都拉斯的科潘山谷进行考古研究。测试坑将被放置在场地内的多个区域，并收集黑铁矿工具和废片。使用水合技术，有可能确定剥落发生的时间，因此研究小组将能够按时间顺序确定。科潘是中美洲主要的前科伦比亚城市之一，考古学家对其进行了多年的研究。在之前NSF的支持下，韦伯斯特博士对该地区进行了一次考古调查，并确定了人口在不同时期的分布情况。陶瓷材料提供了测年的基础，在大多数情况下工作良好。然而，在一个时间间隔内，这些陶瓷的变化不足以作为敏感的时间指示器。因此，该团队必须转向黑铁矿和水合分析。这项研究的长期目标是了解人口、贸易和生存在玛雅帝国兴衰中的作用。韦伯斯特博士在这一领域和这类研究方面拥有丰富的经验。对早期城市起源和性质的调查是新人类学研究的主要领域之一。

This project will allow Dr. Webster and his colleagues to continue archaeological research in the Copan Valley, Honduras. Test pits will be placed in a number of areas within the site and obsidian tools and waste flakes collected. Using a hydration technique, it is possible to date when flaking occurred and thus the team will be able to make chronological determinations. Copan is one of the major precolumbian cities of Central America and has been studied by archaeologists for many years. With previous NSF support, Dr. Webster has conducted an archaeological survey of the region and has determined how the population was distributed during different periods of time. Ceramic materials provide the basis of dating and in most cases work well. During one interval however, these ceramics do not change enough to serve as sensitive time indicators. Thus the team must turn to obsidian and hydration analysis. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the roles of demography, trade and subsistence in the rise and subsequent fall of the Mayan empire. Dr. Webster has substantial experience in this region and with this type of research. Investigation into the origin and nature of early cities is one of the primary areas of new anthropological research.