The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Teotihuacan Archaeological Research Center Endowment
Teotihuacan Archaeological Research Center Endowment
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Learn more about your impact
Research at Teotihuacan—one of the largest cities of the ancient world—is answering key questions about how cities have adapted to stresses and challenges over the centuries. Arizona State University's Teotihuacan Research Laboratory in Mexico is at the center of this research. We are bringing one of the major urban archaeological projects ever done—the Teotihuacan Mapping Project—to completion to expand our knowledge of early urbanism. ASU students have been at the center of these efforts for many years.
The ASU Teotihuacan Research Laboratory gave me an incredible opportunity to work hands-on with a large historical collection, increase my familiarity with Mesoamerican archaeology, and participate in designing collections-based research, which prepared me well to go on to a museum studies program as a graduate student. And climbing the Pyramid of the Sun was an amazing experience!"
Impact of donor support
- Hands-on experience: Students gain first-hand experience with research and working on archaeological collections in Mexico
- Student scholarship and achievement: Donor-supported travel grants allow us to sponsor students to attend conferences where they present their paper/poster on Teotihuacan research
- International research hub: Upkeep and operations of the lab benefits research and training at ASU and many other universities in the U.S. and Mexico
- Community engagement: The lab promotes positive interaction between ASU personnel and Mexican colleagues, students, and community members
- Educational outreach: Donor support allows us to improve our outreach activities to spread the message of the Teotihuacan lab and the city’s relevance more widely across Arizona
- Access and global collaboration: Training and mentoring students across the globe through ASU Online to analyze archaeological data and make them available for public and scientific consumption
- Forefront of emerging research: Research about Teotihuacan continues to inform our own futures
- Completion of the Teotihuacan Mapping Project: Analyzing the wealth of the city’s archaeological data collected over several decades, including over 1 million artifacts
My first trip to Mexico—to Teotihuacan—was funded by a gift fund at my undergraduate institution, Brandeis University. With the help of my professor, George Cowgill, I was able to conduct research at the field lab of the Teotihuacan Mapping Project and participate in fieldwork at the site. That opportunity set the direction of my entire career as a Mesoamericanist archaeologist, specializing in ancient urbanism. I now find myself the director of that same lab (now much upgraded and expanded). Please join me in continuing the long history of excellent research and hands-on student training at Teotihuacan.