<p></p><p>The objective of this
dissertation is to highlight the way history is taught in Perú, more
specifically in Chavín de Huántar. As well as bring to the light the complex
dynamics that revolve around this teaching, including the education system and
the archaeological, local, and national government policies. This study becomes
important in a world where Indigenous Peoples and women continue to be excluded
from historical narratives made for the public. The main motivation to conduct
this work was the need to decolonize the way history is taught and transform it
into an empowering topic that can potentially contribute to a more just world. </p><p>The aim of this research project
was to answer the following research questions: (a) What do children in Chavín
de Huántar, Perú know about their local past? (b) How do different
institutions, organizations, and community members influence such teachings? and
(c) How can archaeologists contribute to a more empowering and less oppressive
teaching of the past? To accomplish this objective an ethnography of learning
with a critical epistemology was conducted during August 2016 and August 2017.
This ethnography included participant observation, semi-structured interviews,
photo and drawing elicitation with children, and two outreach projects (a
summer camp and a teacher workshop). This work also includes a large number of
photographs to contextualize the reader and make her/him/they feel more present
at Chavín during my research, while I describe the surroundings and
circumstances in which learning occurred while I was there. </p><p>This dissertation is divided in
seven chapters. Chapter one provides the reader with a literature and
theoretical background, while in chapter two I provide a general discussion and
context of Chavín de Huántar as a town and as the archaeological UNESCO world
heritage site with the same name. Chapter three will be dedicated to describing
the methods used throughout this ethnography and applied public archaeological
outreach. In chapter four, I begin to answer the proposed research questions.
While in Chapter seven I will provide final remarks and conclusions. </p><p>My research and analysis has
brought to light that children in Chavín de Huántar have a basic understanding
of Chavín as a “Golden-Age”. This time period is promoted by the local and
national government to incentivize tourism as well as what most archaeological
work is concentrated on. In addition, local and national institutions mostly
concentrate on this time period ignoring over 3000 years of local history, with
some exceptions, especially the National Museum of Chavín. In addition, the
political and communication problems between the town and the archaeological
project “Research and Conservation project in Chavín de Huántar” influence
strongly the lack of knowledge children and other community members have about
the archaeological site. </p><p>
</p><p>Although there is a constant
blaming among the institutions of whose fault it is that children do not now
too much about their history, my research provided evidence that in each one of
these institutions there are people willing to work in collaboration in order
to benefit children. In chapter six, I
will provide details about two projects created and implemented in
collaboration: a summer camp and a teachers’ workshop. These projects seemed to
be well received in the community but more like them need to continue in order
to have sustainable results. However, these projects proved that collaboration
is possible and necessary. I conclude this dissertation providing recommendations
for numerous stakeholders in Chavín de Huántar and in Perú, including the
archaeological project, the municipality of Chavín, the Ministry of Culture,
and the Ministry of Education. </p><p></p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/8323640 |
| Date | 15 August 2019 |
| Creators | Marcela Poirier (6877529) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Archaeology_and_Education_Learning_About_The_Past_in_Chavin_de_Huantar_Peru/8323640 |
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